Politics and Law

Good News Friday

I could talk about the fact that the new pope called adoption by gay parents a form of “discrimination against children.” But are we really surprised by this? I could talk about how the National Organization for Marriage insulted adoptive parents of all types (including U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts) as well as same-sex parents. Again: It’s NOM. Are we surprised? But the next couple of weeks are going to be full of perturbing marriage- and parenting-related news, I’m sure, as the U.S. Supreme Court gets set to hear two marriage equality cases on March 26. I’ve chosen, therefore, to highlight some of the positive news of the week for LGBT families. Have a great weekend, all!

Colorado Passes Civil Unions Bill; Lesbian Moms Again in Spotlight

The Colorado House followed the state Senate yesterday in passing a civil unions bill, which the governor has said he will sign. An AP photo of lesbian moms Fran and Anna Simon tops the CBS News report on the occasion; and a photo of the Simons and their son is part of this gallery at HuffPo.

DOMA and Parenting: Game On

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments March 26 and 27 in two cases challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Parenting plays a key role in the arguments, as I explained in my latest newspaper column, below. In the week or so since I wrote it, however, even more briefs have been submitted to the court in support of parenting by same-sex couples. Marriage equality advocates have taken the opposition’s arguments apart, piece by ridiculous piece. (Arguments, I should add, that are as insulting to adoptive and other “non-traditional” straight families as they are to gay and lesbian families.)

German Adoption Ruling Through the Eyes of a German Lesbian Mom

Germany’s highest court ruled Tuesday that same-sex partners may adopt children already adopted by their partners. Stephanie Gerlach, a lesbian mom living in Germany, who has been writing, researching and counseling in the field of lesbian and gay parenthood for over 20 years, sent me an e-mail explaining the ruling in the context of the broader situation for gay and lesbian couples in her country. She was kind enough to let me share it here.

Lesbian Moms “the de facto face of the civil unions debate in Colorado”

Lesbian moms Fran and Anna Simon “have almost become the de facto face of the civil unions debate in Colorado,” according to NPR. NPR’s KUNC interviewed the couple last week, where they spoke about the long fight for civil unions and their hopes for full marriage equality.

10-Year-Old Writes About Why Her Dads Should Be Able to Marry

The Illinois Senate voted on Valentine’s Day in favor of marriage equality, and the state House looks likely to follow suit. The best argument I’ve seen in favor of it is this essay from 10-year-old Braiden Neubecker, “My family and marriage equality.”

Three’s Company: How Many Parents Make a Family?

A Florida judge has allowed three people—two lesbian moms and the man they asked to be their sperm donor—to be listed on the birth certificate of their toddler. And the Dutch justice ministry is about to commission a report examining the possibility of recognizing three parents or more for one child. For some of the parents involved, this expanded recognition is good news; for others, not. But although three-parent recognition may seem newfangled, it has been around for longer than you might think.

In Memoriam: Charlie Morgan — Officer, Mom, DOMA Plaintiff, Cancer Fighter

The world has lost a fighter for justice. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charlie Morgan of the New Hampshire National Guard, and a lesbian mom, passed away this morning, Outserve-SLDN informs us. She had been fighting stage 4 breast cancer. Morgan was also a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

PFLAG Founder and Mom Awarded Presidential Citizens Medal

President Obama has awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, to Jeanne Manford, the schoolteacher who founded PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in support of her gay son. The Medal recognizes Americans who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Manford passed away exactly a month ago at the age of 92, but was told of the honor before she died.

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