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.
Catch up on some news for and about queer parents that I haven’t covered already! We’ve got family news, political moves, science, and some big events for LGBTQ families!
Massachusetts, which led the nation in marriage equality, has fallen behind in updating its parentage laws to protect the children of LGBTQ parents and others regardless of the circumstances of their birth. A bill has just been reintroduced to change that. Here’s how you can help it succeed.
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.
Sixteen years ago today, my spouse and I got legally married after 13 years together—three years to the day after the ruling that made Massachusetts the first U.S. state to have marriage equality. And today, the U.S. Senate could act on a bill to ensure that our marriage will remain legal. I can’t believe that’s even in question, but here we are. It’s a propitious date, however, for even more reasons.
The New York Times just published an article about J. Shia, owner of a vintage motorcycle repair shop in Boston. If you recognize her name, that might be because this motorcycle builder, artist, and queer mom has also been fighting for the right to equal, legal parentage—a right that a pending bill could help ensure.
