The Taste of Victory

Just so you know I meant it:

I did indeed make a maple cornbread to celebrate the two great states of Vermont and Iowa. (Click link for recipe.)

And it was delicious.

It’s Not Over Yet: “Protect Isabella Coalition” Forms to Keep Girl from Lesbian Mom

In this week of euphoria over the marriage victories, let’s not forget we still have a long way to go. Today, “a coalition of concerned Virginia citizens” has formed the “Protect Isabella Coalition” to “create awareness of what it labels ‘judicial tyranny’ in the child custody/visitation case involving Miller, Isabella’s biological mother, and Vermonter Janet Jenkins, her lesbian former partner.”

(I’m not going to boost their search ranking by giving them a direct link. If you like, cut and paste the following: http://www.protectisabella.com/)

Those of you who have been following the case (see here and here) know that Miller and Jenkins created their family together. When they split, Miller said she was no longer a lesbian, enlisted the help of the far-right Liberty Counsel (think of them as the anti-Lambda Legal), and tried to claim sole custody, saying that Jenkin’s lesbian lifestyle was harmful to their daughter. The case has bounced between the jurisdictions of Vermont and Virginia, but in December, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, letting stand a ruling that Virginia must enforce a Vermont court order awarding child-visitation rights to Jenkins.

Most recently, a Vermont Family Court judge rejected a new bid by Miller to deny visitation rights to Jenkins, and reminded Miller that she risks losing custody if she continues to violate court orders. At the same time, he turned down a request from Jenkins that she be given primary custody, and allowed her five weeks of custody in the summer.

The Protect Isabella site is a compilation of the usual unsupported claims about how children fare better with a mother and a father, and statements like “Six-year-old Isabella Miller did not arrive in the world in ‘the usual way.’ Her ‘dad’ is an anonymous sperm donor. The only father she really has known is her Heavenly Father, thanks to the love and godly teaching of her real (biological) mother and role model, Lisa Miller.” Nothing wrong with being religious, of course, but let’s keep the religious arguments out of our legal ones.

Given the case’s Vermont connection, launching the site the day after the Vermont decision seems more than coincidental. Does this mean the right is running scared? We’ll see. I don’t think we should underestimate them, however. For Isabella’s sake, I hope they stop using this case to promote their cause. The custody decision has been made, appealed, and upheld. Yes, going between two households is tough, as it is for any child of divorce or separation. Children deal with it, however, and by and large do just fine. Let’s let the girl get on with her life, sharing it with both of her moms.

(Thanks to Paige Schilt for alerting me to the news.)

The full press release from the Protect Isabella Coalition is after the jump: Read the rest of this post »

Dear President Obama: Tell That to My Child

Dear President Obama:

In less than a week, the White House lawn will be swarming with children and their parents, gleeful participants in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Children of LGBT parents will be among them, as they have been for many years. Some of the children in attendance may be LGBT themselves, whether they are aware of it yet or not.

In a first for the White House, your administration reached out directly to LGBT organizations and asked their members with children to attend. I thank you for that. It is a long-overdue move.

But still . . . .

A few days ago, you released a statement in response to the historic Iowa Supreme Court decision that legalized marriage for same-sex couples in that state. Leaving aside the first version of the statement, which disappointingly used the weaker word “protection” instead of “equal rights,” here is what you said:

The President respects the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage. Although President Obama supports civil unions rather than same-sex marriage, he believes that committed gay and lesbian couples should receive equal rights under the law.

That is both a groundbreaking statement and a disappointment. Groundbreaking because no other president has gone so far in support of same-sex couples. Disappointing because it still upholds the principle of “separate but equal.” As history has shown, the water from a separate fountain never tastes as good. Read the rest of this post »

Cat and Jennifer Cora Welcome Third Son

In what seems like a propitious week, Iron Chef Cat Cora’s wife Jennifer gave birth to the couple’s third son last Saturday, After Ellen reports. Cat Cora is also pregnant, and due in July.

After Ellen also notes that Chef Cora will be opening a restaurant in Disney World this fall. I’m kind of bummed it will be after my own family’s planned trip there. Let’s hope the state of Florida realizes what lesbian moms are bringing to its economy.

Congratulations to their growing family!

Vermont Marriage License Apps: It’s In the Details

In the version of the marriage bill passed by the VT House and Senate, it says:

The department shall prescribe forms that allow each party to a marriage to be designated “bride,” “groom,” or “spouse,” as he or she chooses, and the application shall be in substantially the following form:

The sample form in the bill does indeed have “Bride/Groom/Spouse” at the top of the form. BUT:

It then asks for “Father’s Name,” ‘Father’s Birthplace” and “Mother’s Birthplace,” “Mother’s Maiden Name.”

Yeah. Right.

What if the person getting married has two mothers or two fathers?

This is the kind of gendered form I’ve been crossing out for years related to my son’s schools and doctors and such.

From the language above, however, it sounds like this might not be the final text of the form. I hope someone in Vermont who is involved with the process makes sure the final form includes all kinds of families, since they’re changing it anyway to add “spouse.”

This is not to take away from the significance of simply getting the marriage equality legislation passed, but while we’re at it, let’s make sure to nail the details, what say?

(On a lighter note, although I’ve been making jokes for some time about celebrating Vermont equality with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, it turns out that Walt Freese, the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., joined other business leaders to state his company supports marriage equality and to encourage legislators to override the governor’s veto. You can thank them online or phone 802-846-1500 between 9:00 and 5:00 Eastern, Monday through Friday. Ask for Consumer Services.)

D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Married Same-Sex Couples

The news keeps getting better:

The Washington, D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Like Vermont. And Iowa. And Massachusetts. And Connecticut.

The Washington Post reports that the Council will likely take a final vote on the legislation next month. Congress must then approve—meaning the outcome is far from certain. Still, it’s a step in the right direction.

(Thanks, NCLR.)

Marriage Equality in Vermont: Legislature Votes to Override Governor’s Veto

The Vermont Legislature just voted 100-49 to override the Governor’s veto of marriage equality!

Yes, that’s right. Iowa and Vermont get marriage equality within one week. Vermont was also the first state to enact marriage equality through the legislative process.

I’m thinking maple cornbread to celebrate, followed by massive amounts of Ben & Jerry’s.

Congratulations to all who worked so hard for these victories.

Family Voices International: VIII

Here is the eighth interview in this phase of the Family Voices series. This time around, I am teaming up with Julieta of Ju, An y el Perro Activista to extend the series to include non-U.S. LGBT families. Julieta has also done Spanish translations of all the interviews, which you will find after the English below, and at her blog.

Australians Sam and Kelly have been blogging at The Muriels since 2005, when they began chronicling their journey to parenthood. They talk below about the difficult process of becoming pregnant, the easy time they’ve had with parenting so far, and the legal changes and challenges in their country. Read the rest of this post »