Politics and Law Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill that will give married, opposite-sex couples “placement preference” in the adoption of children, when all other factors are equal. The Virginia State Board of Social Services voted not to approve a proposal from former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) that would have prohibited discrimination against potential […]
The U.S. and 85 other countries backed a United Nations declaration calling for an end to violence and human rights abuses on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued a statement in support of ending such persecution and discrimination. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Happy Monday, everyone! Here’s a roundup of what’s been going on in the news about LGBT parents. Schools and Education Joanne Herman asks, “Should we introduce children to the concept of transgender people?” and answers definitely “yes,” noting (among other things) a paper published in the December 2010 issue of the peer-reviewed Graduate Journal of
The U.S. Senate failed to move forward a defense spending bill that included provisions to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), along with co-sponsors Susan Collins (R-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced a free-standing bill for repeal. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice made
Family Profiles The Advocate profiled lesbian moms Cathy and Leah, who talk about creating their family and offer some wise words about what they have learned as parents. The Arizona Daily Star profiled a nine-year-old transgender girl, and her parents, who have allowed her to transition and live as a girl. The article is generally
The State Department announced it will now allow transgender people to receive a passport reflecting their new legal gender without requiring gender reassignment surgery. Certification from an attending medical physician that the person has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition is sufficient. The State Department also issued a proclamation in honor of LGBT Pride
A U.S. District Court judge heard arguments in the first federal district court hearing to examine the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Political infighting continues in the House around Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Hawaii state representative Blake Oshiro, who brought the state’s civil union bill up for its latest vote, came out
(No vlog this week. Helen’s been away on a business trip, and it’s too hard to sit there talking to myself.) Faith In an essay for Commonweal magazine, an anonymous lesbian mom discusses her Catholic faith, her and her partner’s decision to send their children to Catholic school, and the welcome they received there, in
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, a case that explores whether student groups are able to exclude students based on “status or beliefs” if doing so violates the school’s anti-discrimination policy. President Obama’s administration is sending mixed messages about whether a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will happen
The Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and is one of the key pieces of LGBT-related legislation pending this year. ENDA applies broadly across the LGBT community, and isn’t specific to those of us with children (as are, say, adoption rights), but some
