Marriage Equality Rulings Lead to Expansion of Adoption Rights
The glorious spate of rulings in favor of marriage equality last week is also leading to an expansion of adoption and second-parent adoption rights.
Adoption
Bill to Allow Adoption Discrimination Introduced as Inclusive Bill Picks Up Steam
Republican lawmakers, with the urging of anti-LGBT groups the Family Research Council and the Heritage Foundation, have introduced a bill last week that would allow adoption providers and other child welfare service agencies to refuse to provide services that conflict with their “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions.” Think it’s a thinly veiled attempt to stop LGBT people from adopting or fostering? You’re right. But an opposing bill that would withhold federal funds from adoption providers that discriminate against LGBT people now has record support — although it is far from passage.
Birth Certificates for Kids of Same-Sex Parents: All Over the Map
Three recent stories about same-sex parents trying to obtain accurate birth certificates for their children underscore the obstacles and confusion we often face in trying to protect our families.
Is That Question Rude?
Many of us LGBT parents have had someone ask us a rude question about our families, starting with the classic fumble, “Who’s the real mom?” Two recent videos — one funny, one clever — offer advice for helping people determine if a question about someone’s family or self is offensive.
Moses Has Two Mommies
Tonight is the first night of Passover, when Jews around the world gather to celebrate freedom from slavery in Egypt, under the leadership of a man who had two mommies.
LGBT Parenting Roundup
Some of the things making headlines that I haven’t covered elsewhere, including Utah families in limbo and a Montessori school behaving badly.
A Lesbian Mom Shares Her Transracial Adoption Story
Kera Bolonik, a White lesbian mom, has written a must-read piece about adopting a Black son, in which she reflects on race, difference, assimilation, community, and more.
Russia Bans Adoption by Single People from Countries that Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last week signed a bill into law that bans foreign same-sex couples — and single people of any sexual orientation from countries that allow same-sex couples to wed — from adopting Russian children.
Post of the Week: “It’s National Adoption Week: Be kind to yourselves!”
The Post of the Week for National Adoption Week comes from Jemma of Two Mums. Two Kids?, who reminds us of a very important part of the adoption process.
TV Alert: 7:30 p.m. ET Tonight — Al Jazeera America on LGBT Families and Adoption
A breaking TV alert: Al Jazeera America will be doing a segment tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on LGBT families and adoption. One of their three guests is affiliated with the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage. The Family Equality Council, the national organization supporting LGBT families, is asking people to offer their perspectives through the online video comments and Twitter conversation about the show.