How do donor-conceived adults with lesbian parents think about parenting their own kids? And what do the lesbian parents think about becoming grandparents? Recent results from the longest-running study of lesbian families shed light on these questions.
To celebrate Grandparents Day, here are 15 books featuring LGBTQ grandparents—plus another 15 showing grandparents supporting their LGBTQ grandchildren! They make grand reading today or any time of year.
Sometimes a picture book knocks everything out of the park. Evocative prose, whimsical illustrations, a sweet storyline that deals with sensitive topics by applying a big dose of family love—plus a gender ambiguous protagonist with two grandfathers who are a couple. I almost missed this book because the grandfathers’ relationship is so seamlessly woven into the story that the cataloging information has no indication there are LGBTQ characters. This is one picture book that shouldn’t be skipped, however.
Olympic medalist and financial executive Gail Marquis and her spouse, entrepreneur and fashion commentator Audrey Smaltz, spoke recently with MSNBC about marriage equality, their own relationship, and their granddaughter.
This lovely post from Coming Out At Midlife was submitted as part of Blogging for LGBT Families Day. It reminds me that LGBT families are more than just parent(s) and kid(s); they are grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins; grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Washington State residents John and Dorothy Reitan, who have two gay grandsons, speak up on behalf of marriage equality in this charming video. The Reitans should know a thing or two about marriage, having been married for 70 years. John Reitan is also a pastor and World War II Navy veteran.
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D) signed marriage equality into law February 13, 2012, but opponents are trying to prevent it from going into effect in June by forcing it to a referendum in November.
If more families felt like the Reitans, we wouldn’t need to worry.
These two dads react with surprise and elation when they find out they’re going to be grandpas. Some things are universal. (Thanks, Family Equality Council!)
Just a few stories this week, but no need to wait: Personal Stories Sandy Boucher writes at Salon of not having kids, then becoming an unexpected grandma by virtue of partnering with a woman who was already a grandmother. West Philly Mama discusses her partner’s decision to go by “dad” rather than “mom.” Politics and
Liberal grassroots group Truth and Hope created this video as part of a study about the effects of targeted marriage equality advertisements on a group of voters. You can read the Advocate post about the project to find out what both Democrats and Republicans thought—but before you do, take a minute to watch the video.
As part of NPR’s StoryCorps, a project recording conversations between loved ones, Morning Edition’s Renee Montagne spoke with Tony Perri and his 20-year-old grandson Jeffrey. Tony came out as gay after being married to Jeffrey’s grandmother for 12 years. They remained married for another five. In the piece, he talks about confessing to a priest
