A lesbian mother has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to rule that second-parent adoptions are illegal. Sara Wheeler and her partner had started a family together, with Sara carrying the child and her partner Missy Wheeler adopting him. The two later split, and Sara would not let Missy see their son. Sara asked the county […]
Representative John Conyers (D-Mich.) introduced a federal hate-crimes bill that expands the definition of such crimes to include those based on sexual orientation. A similar bill is expected soon in the Senate. The recent gay bashing and death of 72-year-old Andrew Athos in Detroit is a tragic reminder of the need for such a law.
Originally published in Bay Windows, March 22, 2007.) Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Families sounds like the kind of book that gathers dust on the shelves of politicians and policy wonks. Sean Cahill, Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Policy Institute, and Sarah Tobias, who has been a
A group of seven high-ranking lesbian and gay military veterans called on Congress to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and demanded that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace apologize for calling LGBT service members “immoral.” The New York Times follows the LGBT blogosphere in highlighting Hillary Clinton and
Fewer than a third of American adults eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The government’s goal is for 75 percent of Americans to have two servings of fruits and 50 percent to have three servings of vegetables each day by 2010.
The Evesham School District of Marlton, New Jersey, eliminated a diversity film from its curriculum in early February after some parents protested its inclusion of same-sex families. (Here’s my original post on the matter, and a follow up, plus an excursus on same-sex families in the classroom.) The district has now formed a committee of
Senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gave the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) annual winter board meeting. Candidates John Edwards, Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani declined invitations because of scheduling conflicts. Clinton said “I am proud to stand by your side. I want you to know that just as you have always
I mentioned International Women’s Day (IWD) in my earlier post about mothers’ rights and LGBT rights. The U. S. workplace issues I describe there are important, but I also want to acknowledge that they fade in comparison to the hardships faced by women in many parts of the world: In Afghanistan, “Officials estimate at least
I didn’t write my Bay Windows column for this week with International Women’s Day in mind, but it seems appropriate nonetheless. It explores the need for “Mothers’ Rights” and “LGBT Rights” groups to come together in support of all families. “Mothers’ rights,” defined as better workplace policies, childcare options, and children’s health insurance, touch fathers
Two articles elsewhere caught my eye today: Mnartists.org has an interview with Abigail Garner, author of Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is. Garner has been a strong voice for children of LGBT parents, reminding us, for example, that our children, of any sexual orientation, can be the victims of
