Politics and Law

Binational Lesbian Moms Fight to Keep Family Together

The French National Assembly and a Rhode Island Senate committee each passed a marriage equality bill yesterday, making them likely to become law in both places. The Delaware House also passed one on to the Senate, and the Nevada Senate took the first step towards repealing its constitutional ban on marriage for same-sex couples. Good news. But for Ariana and Diana, two lesbian moms, only a repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and a reform of immigration law will allow them to keep their family together without the risk of deportation.

To End the Silence

Today marks the 16th annual Day of Silence, an event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), where students from middle school to college take some form of a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. But a federal bill reintroduced yesterday that would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination, harassment, bullying, and violence in public schools faces a tough road ahead.

“Science Led to Gay Families”? Not Exactly

An article for CNN yesterday ran the headline “Science led to gay families: Law should follow.” I’m the last person to argue that our families shouldn’t have equal legal rights—but the headline is overstating science’s role and inadvertently perpetuating a dangerous myth about same-sex parents. The article’s author, Debora L. Spar, is president of Barnard

Speech Bubble

Haiku for the Supreme Court

It’s National Poetry Month, and in its honor, I’ve composed two haiku to the highest court in the land.

Anti-Gay or Anti-Miscegenation?

Amid the wave of marriage equality news and posts this week, this one from Mediaite stood out for me for the way it cleverly shows the similarities between anti-gay and anti-miscegenation quotes. Here’s another scary quote on the same theme, related to children’s books.

An Answer for Justice Alito: Look to the Past

At yesterday’s U. S. Supreme Court hearing on marriage equality, Justice Samuel Alito asked, “But you want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution [same-sex marriage] which is newer than cell phones or the Internet? I mean we—we are not—we do not have the ability to see the future.” I have an answer for him.

Megaphone

Children of Same-Sex Parents Speak Out for Equality

Children and adults with same-sex parents have been in the headlines lately by speaking up for marriage equality, making their voices heard all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. We parents should be proud—but should also keep some things in mind before our children make public statements about our families.

Sixth-Grader Testifies for Family at Rhode Island Marriage Equality Hearing

Marriage equality will be the issue of the week, with the U.S. Supreme Court hearing two cases on the matter Tuesday and Wednesday. Let’s get into the swing of things with this video of sixth-grader Matthew Lannon, who lives with his two moms, two dads, and sister in Rhode Island, testifying at that state’s Senate hearing on marriage equality last Thursday.

Helen and I Celebrate 20 Happy (but Not Legal) Years Together

My spouse Helen and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary in about a week. Coincidentally, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing two cases on marriage equality at the same time. I’m hoping our happy anniversary vibes will sway them.

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