Judy Shepard on Rachel Maddow

Judy Shepard, mother of murdered student Matthew Shepard, was on The Rachel Maddow Show last night talking about the Hate Crimes bill, aka the Matthew Shepard Act, and about North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx’s statement that to call her son’s murder a hate crime is a “hoax.”

No mother should ever have to go through what Judy Shepard has. I have the greatest admiration for her and her husband Dennis for transforming their grief into a way to create positive change.

Blogging for LGBT Families Day 2009

Save the date: It’s that time of year again! One month from now, on Monday, June 1, I will be hosting the 4th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day.

Last year, over 170 bloggers from around the world participated, including lesbian moms, gay dads, adult children of LGBT parents, members of the transgender community, LGBT individuals without children, and straight allies. Some bloggers told stories about their paths to parenthood, or tales about their children; some wrote about LGBT relatives or friends; others discussed current political events; and several spoke of why their faith obliges them to support LGBT rights. This year’s writings should be equally diverse and compelling.

Here’s how it works:

• Blog on a topic related to LGBT families on or before June 1, 2009.
• Complete the form at the bottom of this post to submit your entry.
• I’ll compile the posts and highlight them here on June 1. Come back and read the stories and insights of our community and allies.

Any blogger who wants to support LGBT families is welcome, LGBT or not, parent or not. I encourage those who don’t usually post about LGBT families or LGBT issues, as well as those for whom every day is Blogging for LGBT Families Day. Give it a spin based on your usual blog topics. There’s no set formula or format. Photos and videos are also welcome.

The list of last year’s contributions is still online for your perusal.

Please also download a banner and promote the event on your site, Facebook, Twitter, etc. The more people who participate, the more impact our voices will have.

Thanks to the Family Equality Council for sponsorship of the event.