Archives › 2008 › September
Did Sarah Palin Try to Censor LGBT-Themed Children’s Book?
[Update: Sunday, 9/14, 11:30 a.m. Eastern: Michael Willhoite, author of Daddy's Roommate (discussed below), has responded in the Huffington Post to Palin's actions.] I’ve been quiet so far on the issue of Sarah Palin and the possibility that she tried to censor books in the Wasilla, Alaska Public Library. As far as I can tell, [...]
Pitbulls in Chapstick
I have a piece up today at 365gay.com titled Pitbulls in Chapstick, tying together some thoughts about parenthood, September 11, Sarah Palin, and lesbian moms. I can’t crosspost it here yet, but you can hop on over and give it a read. They have a few other great pieces up discussing September 11, too, including [...]
“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 42
Hele and I start our vlog this week with a discussion of Ellen and Portia’s potential as parents. We then bring you some dyke-sized craft projects involving large boxes and lots of duct tape, with a little inspiration from my mom. Online Videos by Veoh.com (If the Veoh video above doesn’t work, try it at [...]
In Memoriam
In honor of all the victims of the tragedy of September 11 and its aftermath, their families, and their friends. May we all work in whatever way we can for a safer, more peaceful world for our children.
Maurice Sendak Comes Out
Maurice Sendak, author of beloved children’s classics such as Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen, has just come out. He revealed this in an interview with the New York Times in honor of his 80th birthday, which will be celebrated Monday by a benefit in Manhattan. Sendak has kept his sexuality [...]
Giveaway: Giggles Software for Babies
Today I’m giving away a set of Giggles Computer Funtime for Baby software by Leveractive. Babies can hit any key on the keyboard to interact with the software and trigger various animations and other fun but age-appropriate actions. When Amanda DeVito, VP of Marketing/Sales for Leveractive, first contacted me, I was dubious about the need [...]
Florida Gay and Lesbian Adoption Ban Unconstitutional
A nice tall glass of sunshine to start your day: A Monroe Circuit Court judge in Florida ruled that the state’s 31-year-old ban on adoption by gay men and lesbians is unconstitutional. The judgment will allow a gay Key West foster parent to adopt a teenage boy he has raised since 2001, an action deemed [...]
Are Mothers Giving Sarah Palin Her Bump?
TIME magazine just ran a story titled, “Can Obama Win Back Wal-Mart Moms?” based on a new Washington Post-ABC News survey that found McCain went from an 8-point deficit among white women before the Republican National Convention to a 12-point advantage after it, a total gain of 20 percentage points against Obama among this demographic. [...]
Family Voices XVII: LGBT Grandparents
I’m very pleased today to bring you a new wave of posts in my Family Voices series, in partnership with Stonewall Communities. Stonewall Communities is an organization dedicated to creating residential, educational, social and supportive opportunities among older LGBT people. The previous phases of Family Voices showcased the stories of other LGBT parents and the [...]
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson Starting a Family?
Could Lindsay Lohan and rumored girlfriend Samantha Ronson be starting a rumored family? Gossip site PerezHilton.com brings us scuttlebutt from the U.K.’s fine bastion of journalism, News of the World, which says the two are considering parenthood. Hmm. Could it be mere coincidence that Lohan is starring in a new movie titled Labor Pains, whose [...]
Staying at Home vs. Outside Employment
Nina over at Queercents has posted her thoughts on Leslie Bennetts’ The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much?, a book that warns women of the financial risks of staying home as full-time caregivers. The book spawned much controversy when it first came out, with the media hyping it as part of the “Mommy [...]
Ellen on Kids
A bit of celebrinews to start the week: In an interview for Newsweek about her wedding, Ellen Degeneres was asked whether she and spouse Portia De Rossi were thinking about children: Are you going to have kids? I don’t know. They’re cute, but they’re a lot of trouble. There’s always something to worry about at [...]
Happy Grandparents’ Day!
It’s Grandparents’ Day today in the U.S., a lesser-known holiday than its non-grand counterparts, but a reason to celebrate nonetheless. Here’s to our own son’s grandparents, who have been a supportive and happy influence on his life and ours. Parenting is largely about on-the-job training, and it’s nice to know there are trustworthy people we [...]
Weekly Political Roundup
The Log Cabin Republicans, the national LGBT Republican group, has endorsed the McCain/Palin ticket for the presidency. Steve Schmidt, the McCain campaign’s senior advisor (who apparently has a lesbian sister), then met with the group. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), one of two openly gay House members, said Sarah Palin’s personal life is fair game for [...]
“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 41
Helen and I are excited (and a little anxious) this week because our son is starting kindergarten. We take the opportunity to reflect on some of the things that have surprised us most about parenthood during the past five years, including aspects of our child’s development, our relationship with each other, Helen’s relationship with her [...]
Forget Sarah: It’s Alice!
We now interrupt back-to-school time and Sarah-Palin watching with a very important announcement: As I (and many of you) predicted, it is Leisha Hailey (and her character Alice Pieszecki) who will star in a spinoff of The L Word, After Ellen reports. The final season of The L Word will air in January and set [...]
Back-to-School LGBT Resource List
Last year at back-to-school time I published a list of school-related resources from various LGBT organizations. I’ve revised and reposted it below. It focuses on key, accessible resources for parents and educators, and is not meant to be absolutely comprehensive. If you have any further suggestions, though, please leave a comment. My own son started [...]
Palin and Parenting: What Do You Think?
Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will address her party’s convention tonight. Much has been written in the past few days about her decisions while pregnant herself and with regards to her 17-year-old daughter’s pregnancy. I know that many of you, dear readers, have strong opinions about personal parenting choices as well as politics. Let us [...]
LGBT Parenting Roundup
Some happenings in the world of LGBT parenting: A Swedish lesbian couple is seeking 50,000 kronor ($7,700) in compensation from the Västerbotten County Council. The ombudsman against discrimination due to sexual orientation (HomO), arguing for the couple, says that in order to receive county-financed assisted insemination, a couple must be diagnosed with a medical problem. [...]
Butch: It’s What’s for Dinner
(The Butch Cookbook, discussed below, isn’t about parenting per se, but since food forms a large part of most parents’ lives, I thought it was relevant. I had interviewed one of the editors, Nel Ward, in her role as head of the American Library Association’s Rainbow Project of LGBT-inclusive children’s books. She was kind enough [...]
Inclusive Songs from Erin Lee and Marci
Children’s musicians Erin Lee and Marci bring us the next of their regular posts with thematic recommendations for kid-friendly music, plus activities to make the songs an interactive experience for the whole family. Look for Erin Lee and Marci here on the first Monday of each month, or visit their homepage, www.gottaplay.org. I’ve created links [...]
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