November 18 marks at least five notable LGBTQ anniversaries and observances. Do you know them all? (OK, one is purely personal; it’s the “Massaversary” of when my spouse and I made it legal in Massachusetts. But even that is related to another event….)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) has signed legislation updating the state’s parentage laws to be more equitable for LGBTQ parents and their children, families formed via assisted reproduction, and those with de facto or functional parents. “It’s a great, great day as we celebrate full parental equality,” she said at the signing ceremony Monday.
Terrific news from Massachusetts today! Just before 3 a.m. this morning, the legislature enacted the Massachusetts Parentage Act, updating state parentage laws to better protect the children of LGBTQ parents, those formed via assisted reproduction, and those with de facto or functional parents.
The Massachusetts House unanimously passed critical legislation yesterday that would update the state’s parentage laws to better protect the children of LGBTQ parents and others regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Representatives spoke of how current laws shockingly fall short and urged passage of the bill for both personal and societal reasons.
Twenty years ago today, two moms received the first marriage license deliberately issued to a same-sex couple in the United States. They were accompanied by their daughter and by the attorney (another another queer mom) who had led the landmark case for marriage equality. Let’s take a further look at how parents and the welfare of children helped accomplish this milestone.
All children gain security and benefits from legal ties to their parents. Yet children with LGBTQ parents, and those born through assisted reproduction, lack clear and simple ways to establish legal parentage in many states. Two key advocates in Michigan’s successful recent effort to make parentage laws more equitable and inclusive shared advice with me that they hope will help other states do the same.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) has signed legislation updating the state’s parentage laws to reflect the many ways families are formed today and equally protect all of the children in them, including those with LGBTQ parents. At least three other states have similar legislation pending—though many others lag behind.
Catch up on some stories I haven’t posted about already! There are moves to make parentage more secure for children of LGBTQ parents in Ireland and Massachusetts; an ongoing custody case; two queer moms who could become federal judges, and more!
Today, November 18, marks at least six different notable anniversaries and observances for the LGBTQ community. Do you know them all? (OK, one is purely personal; it’s the “Massaversary” of when my spouse and I made it legal in Massachusetts. But even that is related to another event….)
Yesterday, 20 years to the week after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize marriage equality, LGBTQ parents and others testified in support of legislation to finally update the state’s parentage laws so that children of LGBTQ parents—and all children—have equal access to the security of legal parentage.
