“Leaving” Queer Families Behind
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) turned 25 this week, but LGBTQ parents are less likely than others to have access to paid leave, a recent article reminds us.
Politics and Law
Same-Sex Parents Sue U.S. State Department for Denying Their Children Citizenship
Two pairs of bi-national same-sex parents are suing the U.S. State Department for refusing to recognize their valid marriages and denying their children their rightful citizenship at birth. See them tell their stories in two short videos.
New HHS Office Will Allow Discrimination in Health Care Against LGBTQ Parents, Children, and Others
A new office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will allow health care workers to refuse to provide medical services or perform related duties if doing so violates their religious or moral beliefs. In other words, it will allow them to discriminate widely—and LGBTQ people and families are at risk.
As Reproductive Technology Advances, Let’s Remember Parenthood Isn’t Just Biology
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have made an advance that could someday lead to same-sex couples being able to use both parents’ DNA to create their children. Cool—but let’s make sure not to use this as a reason to prioritize biological parents over nonbiological ones.
2017: A Good News, Bad News Year for LGBTQ Families
Was 2017 a good year for LGBTQ parents and our children? The political situation in the U.S. was grim, but we also saw progress in some areas.
Zach Wahls, of Two-Mom Video Fame, Announces Iowa Senate Run
Zach Wahls, who shot to fame in 2011 when his speech to the Iowa legislature about growing up with two moms went viral (twice!) has announced he is running for the Iowa Senate.
LGBTQ Parenting Roundup: Solstice Edition
The day may be short, but it’s full of LGBTQ parenting news.
Pull up a cup of something warm and read on.
Two Cool Ways Canada Is Supporting Queer Families
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made headlines by marching in Pride parades—but here are two ways Canadian provinces are supporting queer families (among others) through actual policies: Ontario now recognizes up to four co-parents, and Quebec will introduce discussion of different family types, including same-sex couples, to its mandatory sex education curriculum.
Hawaii Same-Sex Parent Case Shows Mom Behaving Badly
I’m not sure what angers me more: the many child custody cases in which a biological mom tries to stop a nonbiological mom from seeing their children after a divorce or separation—or a case in which a nonbiological mom claims she’s not a mom so she doesn’t have to pay child support.
Why You Still Need to Do a Second-Parent Adoption
I’ve written many times before about why second-parent adoptions are still a good idea, even if you are married and both parents are on the child’s birth certificate. Another case in the news this past week reminds us why.