Gay Dads Get a Lift at IKEA

One more reason I love IKEA. Actual photo from the IKEA in Stoughton, Mass.

(And yes, there was another elevator next to it with a “man” and a “woman” and a child—or a butch and a femme, depending on your perspective. One of the figures was in a dress. Interpret it as you will. That seemed less extraordinary, however, and since my son was dragging me away for meatballs, I didn’t grab a photo.)

Weekly Political Roundup

A little political news this week, hmm? I already covered some Prop 8 stories on Tuesday, but I’ll start with a few more, because I just can’t help myself:

• Alec Baldwin (yes, that Alec Baldwin) tells us Why Childless Straight Couples Make the Case for Gay Marriage.
• Hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons adds to my collection of says, “As an African-American, I urge my own people to take a deep look at our own struggles and not wish them upon anyone else. Simply, civil rights for all is about being connected as humans, united, tolerant, loving and brave. . . . In my heart, I know that marriage equality for every human being isn’t a question of if, but only a matter of when.”
• Joan Vennochi’s op-ed in the Boston Globe is a must-read on President Obama stance towards LGBT equality and his choice of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Republican attorney Theodore Olson and Democratic attorney David Boies, who argued opposite sides in Bush v. Gore in 2004, have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco on behalf of two same-sex couples who wish to marry. They say the case could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Many LGBT rights groups are arguing that the time is not yet right for this.
• Finally, the Advocate asks a good question, relevant for when I’m visiting the in-laws: Are same-sex couples who married in Canada or Massachusetts before the November 4, 2008, passage of Prop 8 still married under California law?

In other U.S. news: Read the rest of this post »

How to Help Kids Cope with Prop 8

I’ve written ad infinitum about the impact on children of Prop 8 and other anti-LGBT measures. SFGate’s “City Brights” writer and internist physican Doc Gurley, however, offers some practical advice on how to help your children cope with the emotions they may be feeling as a result of the ruling.

Here’s a summary of her main points—but definitely go read the whole thing if you’re in California or any other state with anti-LGBT measures in the news.

1. Be tolerant of irritability, mood swings, anger, shame and grief.
2. Frame the issue to allow for hope.
3. Chart a path for the future that includes constructive acts, and and then take actual physical steps to achieve them.
4. Try to protect your child from being re-traumatized.
5. If you care about kids in a family that’s been affected, let your feelings be known.

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 70

Helen and I take to the great outdoors this week to bring you a home improvement edition. Lumber, power tools, rebar, and dirt—what could be better to create both a sandbox and a garden plot? We also discuss how the Prop 8 decision impacts children and invite viewers to participate in the upcoming Blogging for LGBT Families Day.

(If the embedded video above doesn’t work for you, try it here.)

Brought to you in partnership with After Ellen.

Lesbian Latina Sheriff Is a Straight Shooter

California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno was the lone dissenting voice in the Prop 8 ruling this week. Judge Sonia Sotomayor is our next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a celebration of recent Hispanic achievements, however, let’s not forget Sheriff Lupe Valdez of Dallas, Texas. New (and very promising) Web site The Stimulist hasn’t, and reminds us that she was the first female, first person of color, first lesbian, and first Democrat elected to the job. Site founder and MSNBC anchor Carlos Watson talks with Valdez in an inspirational video. Make sure to listen to the end, where Valdez talks about the importance of having and being allies. Read the rest of this post »

GOOD Decision Out of California On Tuesday

No, I’m not talking about Prop 8. I’m talking about the decision by the Alameda school board to adopt an LGBT-inclusive safe schools curriculum.

I wrote last week about the brewing controversy in Alameda, so I’ll refer you to that post for the details. Here’s the short version:

Supporters of the measure wanted to curb anti-LGBT teasing and harassment, and thought the proposed curriculum would help teachers debunk stereotypes and teach children about different types of families. Detractors got their knickers in a twist thinking that elementary school students would be learning about sex and having a political agenda pushed on them. (Where have we heard that before?)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports: “The topics the board approved start at the lower grades with the negative impacts of generic teasing. As students advance, the lessons introduce vocabulary such as gay, lesbian and bisexual, and include discussions related to diverse families and sexual orientation stereotypes.” They note, “Teachers will begin to use the words ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay’ in fourth-grade classes.”

OK, fine. But what are they going to do when little Johnny in the first grade pipes up with, “My moms are lesbians, and they can’t get married in California”?

Still, it’s a heartening bit of news from the Golden State this week. Kudos to the school board and all of the parents who had the courage to speak up for tolerance.

Prop 8: The Video Edition

A little morning inspiration:

A little more after the jump: Read the rest of this post »

Prop 8: The Think Positive Edition

The blogosphere is awash in news and analysis of Prop 8. I’m working on a more thoughtful piece of my own, but in the meantime, I wanted to highlight a few of the more positive pieces I’ve found. Call me an optimist, but I do believe in that bendable arc of the universe.

First, lesbian-rights icon Phyllis Lyon wrote in the LA Times, before the decision was announced: “I’m optimistic about the future. Look at all the states that have now done this. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. They may not all last. But it’s going to be all right. It may not be while I’m alive, but eventually it will work out that if two people want to get married, they can get married and it won’t matter to whom. We went through this before with people of color. It will be OK.” Read the rest of this post »