LGBTQ Parenting Roundup
Let’s round up some LGBTQ parenting stories I haven’t covered elsewhere—have a read and see what’s happening!
illinois
Illinois Updating Birth Certificate System to Better Include Trans Parents
Illinois’ current birth certificate system labels parents in ways that may not be accurate for some queer parents. The state is working to fix that, and one transgender couple is already benefiting.
Illinois School District Cancels Author Talk Because Her Book Mentions Harvey Milk
An Illinois school district canceled an author’s visit to an elementary school to talk about her new book on the childhoods of 16 famous activists (among them Martin Luther King, Jr. and Alexander Hamilton), because a parent complained that one of the activists included was Harvey Milk, says the author.
New Chicago Mayor Is City’s First Black, Woman Mayor, and Also a Lesbian Mom
In a historic victory, Lori Lightfoot last night was elected mayor of Chicago, becoming the city’s first Black woman mayor, its first openly LGBTQ mayor, and the first openly LGBTQ woman of color to be elected mayor in any of America’s 100 largest cities. She’s also a proud lesbian raising a 10-year-old daughter with her spouse Amy Eshleman.
More States Seeking to Add LGBTQ History, People, to Curriculum
Both Massachusetts and Illinois have recently taken steps towards including the history and achievements of LGBTQ people—and the authentic telling of their lives—in the states’ education curricula.
10-Year-Old Writes About Why Her Dads Should Be Able to Marry
The Illinois Senate voted on Valentine’s Day in favor of marriage equality, and the state House looks likely to follow suit. The best argument I’ve seen in favor of it is this essay from 10-year-old Braiden Neubecker, “My family and marriage equality.”
Nevada Marriage Ruling Insults All “Non-Traditional” Families
He probably doesn’t know it’s National Adoption Month. But when U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Jones ruled that Nevada’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples did not violate the U.S. Constitution, he insulted not only same-sex couples, but also adoptive and single-parent families.
Todd Parr Explains Book, Families to Illinois Adults Who Don’t Understand Them
Author Todd Parr has responded with the video below (after the jump) to the banning of his The Family Book by an Illinois school board. They banned the book after some parents complained about a page that says, “Some families have two moms or two dads.” Todd Parr is awesome.
Weekly Political Roundup
The Pentagon’s top four leaders testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee in favor of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. John McCain and some Republicans, however, weren’t convinced. U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt declined to recuse himself from the Prop 8 case. Opponents of marriage equality had asked him to withdraw
Weekly Political Roundup
What’s going on with the ban on openly gay servicemembers? Don’t ask. On Thursday, results from the upcoming Pentagon report on the impact of a repeal leaked to the Washington Post. The good news is that the ban could be repealed “with only minimal and isolated incidents of risk to the current war efforts.” Then