milestone Archives - Page 11 of 33

COVID-19 Pauses Family Building for Many LGBTQ People

March 27, 2020

Nina Willbach and her wife, a Philadelphia couple, have been trying to get pregnant since last June via assisted insemination. On March 13th, they were told that their most recent attempt didn’t work—and they couldn’t try again because COVID-19 had put a stop to “elective procedures” in Pennsylvania. “I know a lot of folks are going through much worse right now, but it feels like a big blow when every month counts and we’ve had this many no’s,” Willbach told me in an online message. They’re not the only ones to have family-making plans halted during the pandemic.

Federal Court Says South Carolina Anti-LGBTQ Curriculum Law Is Unconstitutional

March 12, 2020

A South Carolina law banning any discussion of same-sex relationships in public school health classes (except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases) is unconstitutional, a federal court said yesterday.

American Psychological Association Revises and Reaffirms Support of LGBTQ Parents, LGBTQ Children, and Anti-Discrimination Laws

March 4, 2020

The American Psychological Association (APA) on Monday issued updated resolutions in support of LGBTQ parents and LGBTQ children, and opposing laws, policies, and practices that discriminate against LGBTQ people.

Watch: Reps. Angie Craig and Jackie Speier Read Kids’ Books on Gender Identity — from the U.S. House Floor

February 28, 2020

Yesterday was the annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings, organized by HRC’s Welcoming Schools program. Watch Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), the first lesbian mom elected to Congress, and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), a strong LGBTQ ally, read two great children’s books on gender identity on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives!

Federal Appeals Court: Same-Sex Spouses in Indiana May Both Be on Children’s Birth Certificates

January 21, 2020

It’s hard to believe that nearly five years after federal marriage equality, we’re still seeing courts having to determine if same-sex married parents may both be on their children’s birth certificates. At least this recent decision in Indiana was a positive one.

New Jersey Simplifies Legal Parentage Process for Nonbiological Parents

January 15, 2020

New Jersey has just enacted a law allowing married/civil unioned LGBTQ couples using assisted reproduction to avoid the intrusive, expensive, second-parent adoption process and simply file a few documents in order to get a court judgment confirming the nonbiological parent’s legal parentage.

Illinois Updating Birth Certificate System to Better Include Trans Parents

January 12, 2020

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.

25 Years of the Biggest LGBTQ Family Gathering in the World

July 26, 2019

This Saturday is the start of the 25th Annual Family Week in Provincetown, the world’s largest gathering of LGBTQ+ families. At a time when LGBTQ families are still fighting to be recognized as families, the event offers not only vacation, but also encouragement and inspiration.

IVF Is 41 Today! Happy Birthday Louise Brown!

July 25, 2019

Today marks the 41st birthday of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby born after in vitro fertilization (IVF). My spouse and I also used IVF to have our son, now one of more than eight million other people created through the procedure, so here’s a big happy birthday to Louise Brown and gratitude for the progress she represents.

Parent-child hands. Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash

Connecticut and Oregon Enact Paid Family Leave Laws that Let Employees Define Their Own Families

July 2, 2019

Connecticut and Oregon each enacted laws in June that extend paid family leave with broad definitions of who’s in a family, among other new provisions.