Remembering 9/11
I’ve posted a similar version of this for a few years now, but it seems appropriate to do so again.
In honor of all the victims of the tragedy of September 11 and its aftermath, their families, and their friends.
Son of Lesbian Moms Tells Romney: “My family is just as real as yours”
Following the speech Tuesday night by gay dad and Colorado Rep. Jared Polis at the Democratic National Convention, Zach Wahls, the former University of Iowa student whose speech about marriage equality to the state House went viral—twice—on YouTube, spoke to the Convention on Thursday, quipping, “People want to know what it’s like having lesbian parents. I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m awesome at putting the seat down.”
Gay Dad Speaks at DNC of Togetherness in Diversity
The gay dad in question is, of course, Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who told the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night: “My great-grandparents were immigrants. I am Jewish. I am gay. I am a father. I am a son. I am an entrepreneur. I am a congressman from Colorado. I am always an optimist. But first and foremost, I am an American.”
California Advances Bills to Protect Lesbian Families (and Others)
The California legislature advanced two bills recently that would provide greater protection and equality to lesbian families and others that don’t fit the “mom-dad-kids” mold.
Lesbian and Gay Parenting: Funnier than Fiction
NBC’s The New Normal, a sitcom about two gay dads and their surrogate, premieres in a week. ABC’s sitcom Modern Family, which includes two gay dads, has won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. I therefore thought I’d post a list of some of the funniest true memoirs by lesbian and gay parents. Humor can be a coping, teaching, and entertainment mechanism, and the authors below use it in all three ways.
A Platform for All Families
Tired of the the Republicans’ anti-LGBT and anti-women platform? The Family Equality Council (FEC) has an alternative. The organization yesterday released its Family Platform, calling for “the full inclusion of all families, including families headed by LGBT people and same-sex couples, in the life of our nation.”
Parents of Transgender Children Share Their Stories
Parents of transgender children “are the best parents ever. They unconditionally love their children, even when they don’t completely understand what their child is going through,” writes mom Tracie Stratton (herself such a parent) in Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle, and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children, edited by Rachel Pepper. That lesson of acceptance and love, conveyed through the 32 essays in the collection, make Transitions of the Heart a valuable read for any parent, regardless of the gender identity of their children.
From Pillows to Penguins: My Night at the Residence Inn Boston Harbor
I had the pleasure last weekend of spending a night at the Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf, courtesy of Residence Inn by Marriott, which is reaching out to blogging parents for feedback and ideas.
I’m very picky when it comes to doing commercial promotions on this blog–probably more so because I’ve been in corporate marketing myself. I don’t want to blindly shill products and services. Having said that, I DO think it’s important for LGBT parents to be in the mix when companies are reaching out to attract families, and I’m delighted to help when companies truly seem like they want to be inclusive.
Utah NBC Affiliate Won’t Air Sitcom About Gay Dads
NBC affiliate KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah, won’t air The New Normal, a new sitcom about two gay dads and their surrogate, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Bonneville CEO Jeff Simpson, CEO of the station’s parent company, Bonneville International, told the Tribune that “For our brand, this program feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time.”
Military Same-Sex Parents Write About Ongoing Inequalities
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may be gone, but the inequalities linger for married and partnered servicemembers, including those with children. Several of these families are telling their stories through letters they have written to Congress, as part of a new campaign from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and OutServe.