A Two-Mom Family That’s Out of This World
I’m over the moon about this stellar middle-grade graphic novel starring a girl with two moms!
divorce
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Shares About Partner and Kids in Her Life
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) has long been open about being a lesbian, but quiet about her private life—and now, has just shared that she has a partner who has two kids.
“Queer Stepfamilies” Shows “Our Families Exist”
Much previous research on queer parents and our children has focused on intact queer families (mostly with gay male or lesbian parents) formed through adoption or assisted reproduction, including surrogacy. Less attention has been paid to queer families formed when one or both parents had children from a previous relationship of any kind, or had started their family as a single parent before partnering. A new book on queer stepfamilies helps to remedy that.
“Tuesday Is Daddy’s Day”: An Updated Take on Divorce and New Same-Sex Relationships
It’s been 25 years since a picture book (the classic Daddy’s Roommate) has shown a child with a divorced mom and dad, whose dad is dating another man. A new picture book brings us an updated take on the theme, with a story about a girl whose mom and dad are working together with the dad’s new partner, Harry, to ensure she’s cared for—and that she gets the occasional happy surprise.
Divorce, Reproductive Losses, and Other Queer “Failures”
When the first same-sex couple to marry legally in the United States, Hillary and Julie Goodridge, was feeling stressed from public attention, they didn’t want to seek couples’ counseling. Julie told NPR this past May, “It felt like too much of a risk.” They divorced a few years later. Their daughter Annie, who was 10 at the time, said in retrospect, “I felt like our family let everyone down.” Their situation highlights a long-time problem for the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups: the pressure to be perfect. Two new books, however, each look at topics often associated with failure—relationship break-ups and reproductive losses—in order to help LGBTQ people and our children better navigate them.
“Crime in Space” Case Raises Questions of Parenting and Homophobia
NASA astronaut and Army Lieutenant Colonel Anne McClain could be the first woman on the Moon, reported Stars and Stripes last Thursday—one day before an accusation from McClain’s estranged spouse made headlines about a “crime in space.” Behind the headlines, though, is the specter of the question: “Who’s a parent?”
Weekly Political Roundup
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, a case that explores whether student groups are able to exclude students based on “status or beliefs” if doing so violates the school’s anti-discrimination policy. President Obama’s administration is sending mixed messages about whether a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will happen
Weekly Political Roundup
Not news per se, but the Victory Fund has put together a nice video of LGBT women in politics. In a constitutional challenge to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), the Department of Justice filed a brief supporting the current DADT law. Several experts on DADT are claiming the Obama administration misrepresented their views in the
Weekly Political Roundup
News from late last week that didn’t make it into that roundup: The U.S. Senate confirmed two gay men and a lesbian to high-ranking roles in the administration. Douglas Wilson will be assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. As a civilian, he is not subject to the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Cynthia
Weekly Political Roundup
Bunches of news this week. I’m saving parenting/youth-related stuff for a separate roundup early next week. This week was busy with the extra Banned Books Week content. Stay tuned! An article written by an Air Force colonel in Joint Force Quarterly, which is published for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, concludes that