Archives › 2006 › October
Flu Vaccine Delayed
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is warning parents of a delay this year in getting flu shots for children six months through three years because of a shipment delay by the manufacturer. The AAP says plenty of vaccine will be available, but pediatricians will receive most of their supply in November and December. As [...]
Quotes about Motherhood in Honor of LGBT History Month, III
Willa Cather is next in the series, providing us with several portraits: The woman in the chaise longue was still alone. She lay there all day, looking at the sea. The little girl, Carin, played noisily about the deck. Occasionally she returned and struggled up into the chair, plunged her head, round and red as [...]
GLSEN Celebrates Ally Week
The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and its student clubs are celebrating October 15-21 as Ally Week. GLSEN says: “Ally Week is about identifying and supporting allies and asking them to sign the Ally Pledge to intervene in bullying and harassment throughout the school year.” Students and clubs are encouraged to register for Ally [...]
Weekly Political Roundup
In the U. S.: The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of a gay couple in California who sought to challenge the state’s refusal to issue them a marriage license. As the Independent Gay Forum points out, though, this might not be a bad thing. Had the Supremes ruled against the plaintiffs, it [...]
We’re Here, We’re Queer, We Vote in Every District
The number of same-sex couples in the U. S. has grown 30 percent in the last five years, claims a new report from the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy (PDF link). The researchers speculate that “as stigma associated with same-sex partnering and homosexuality in general decreases, more same-sex couples are willing [...]
In Honor of Matthew Shepard
Today marks eight years since the brutal gay bashing that killed University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. His mother Judy Shepard, one of the LGBT community’s staunchest advocates, is using this day to launch the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s Get Out the Vote campaign. I had the honor of meeting Judy Shepard once, before I was [...]
Welcome, Bay Windows Readers!
A special welcome today to those of you visiting from Bay Windows, “New England’s Largest LGBT Newspaper.” As a New England native and sometime resident of the Bay State myself, I’m especially happy to have you here. Thanks to Laura Kiritsy of Bay Windows for her nice article about Mombian in this year’s Bay Windows [...]
Breakfast Pizza
The other day, when I asked my three-year-old what he wanted for breakfast, he replied, “Pizza.” Now, I’ve been a fan of cold leftover morning ‘za since my college days, but not having any in the house, and wanting to instill good breakfast habits in the next generation, I came up with this quick, healthier [...]
How to Respond When Meeting Lesbian Moms
(This is a slightly edited version of the post I ran last NCOD, to favorable response.) Today is National Coming Out Day (NCOD) in the U. S. Instead of offering advice on coming out (ably covered by HRC), I want to flip things around and offer a few tips to people who may be unsure how [...]
New Lesbian-Mom Memoir by Wall Street Journal Veteran
Kara Swisher, a veteran Wall Street Journal writer and lesbian mom, has launched an online memoir, “The Louie Chronicles,” on the Huffington Post. Swisher, who writes for the Journal about the impact of digital technologies on business and society, now turns her keyboard to the world of parenting and family. She explains: Centered on the [...]
Free Play vs. Structured Activities: What’s Best for Kids?
Two recent studies offer somewhat contradictory advice on the importance of free play vs. structured activities for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says: Free and unstructured play is healthy and—in fact—essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient. . [...]
Tips for Not Getting Sick(er) at the Pediatrician’s
Lesbian mom Beren deMotier has written a useful list of ways to keep your child from getting sicker when you take your child to the pediatrician’s office. Timely advice as we head into cold season. (Thanks to Lifehacker for the sighting.)
A Suggestion for National Coming Out Day
This Wednesday, October 11, is National Coming Out Day (NCOD). I don’t know how many people actually come out on NCOD, but that’s not really the point. NCOD can help those who are coming out find resources and support, and make all people aware of the ramifications of staying in the closet. These are both [...]
Weekly Political Roundup
The big national news this week in the U. S. was the ongoing debacle of Mark Foley and the reeling but still struggling Republican leadership. The media is now highlighting the debate over whether the Foley case is a “gay issue.” My take is that it shouldn’t be a “gay issue,” but it is. The [...]
Quotes about Motherhood in Honor of LGBT History Month, II
Virginia Woolf takes the second spot in my series of quotes by famous lesbians about motherhood. I offer these quotes for thought and reflection, and hope they demonstrate a variety of attitudes and viewpoints. There are no yard measures, neatly divided into the fractions of an inch, that one can lay against the qualities of [...]
Gay Adoptive Couple Profiled in San Francisco Chronicle
The San Francisco Chronicle has a great article on Gregory Stewart and Stillman White and their five adopted children. It’s a wonderful family portrait, showing the usual parenting issues the two face as well as the extras—being gay parents, adoptive parents, parents to at-risk children, and white parents to children of color. Bonus points to [...]
Flu Shots Now Recommended for Most Children Under Five
All children between six months and five years old should receive a flu shot, according to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC wants to make sure parents are aware of these new guidelines, since their previous recommendation put the upper age at two. They also recommend that household contacts [...]
Sale on Seventh Generation Products
Amazon is having a sale on select Seventh Generation products, including chlorine-free diapers, “Free & Clear” laundry detergent, and a variety of paper products, now through the end of October. You’ll get $40 off with a purchase of $139 or more. (Detailed requirements here.) Cloth vs. disposable diapers are a matter of personal preference. I’m [...]
Quotes about Motherhood in Honor of LGBT History Month
It’s LGBT History Month here in the U. S. I’m going to celebrate throughout the month by posting various quotes by famous lesbians about motherhood. Let’s start with two verses by the Ur-Dyke herself: A fair daughter have I, Cleis by name, Like a golden flower she seems to me. Far more than all Lydia, [...]
New Jersey Marriage Decision Imminent
Garden State Equality, the New Jersey LGBTI civil rights group, sent out an e-mail today to supporters stating that: The New Jersey Supreme Court will hand down its ruling on marriage equality for same-sex couples on or before Wednesday, October 25th, the last day of Chief Justice Deborah Poritz’s service on the court. That means [...]
DVD Recommendation: Akeelah and the Bee
Akeelah and the Bee is a gem of a movie for middle-school and late-elementary school children. Eleven-year-old Akeelah lives with her overworked mother in South Central LA and mourns the death of her father. Her two older brothers have their own paths, one in the Air Force and the other hanging with gangbangers. Akeelah struggles [...]
Abby Cadabby
Today my son and I saw the first episode of Sesame Street to feature the new character Abby Cadabby. Most people concede it’s nice to have another female Muppet on the show, although many criticize the fairy Abby for being too stereotypically girly, pink, and sparkly. Frankly, I don’t see her as so much more [...]
Book Recommendation: Corduroy Lost and Found
My three-year-old son and I have long been fans of Don Freeman’s Corduroy and A Pocket for Corduroy books. Corduroy is an inquisitive teddy bear whose understated adventures are charming and funny without sliding into cutesiness. More than anything else, the books are about the power of the friendship between the bear and his human [...]
Breast Cancer Awareness Links for Lesbians
To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are some sites to inform, support, and help you take action. Resources with a lesbian connection: The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer. You may remember Love from her appearance on The L Word last season. Love is an [...]
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