Mary Cheney Gives Birth to Second Child

Mary Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, this morning gave birth to Sarah Lynne Cheney, the second child for herself and partner Heather Poe. Here is the family’s statement, via Politics Daily:

Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne Cheney, welcomed their seventh grandchild, Sarah Lynne Cheney, Wednesday, November 18, 2009. She weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz and was born at 8:17 A.M. at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. Her parents are the Cheneys’ daughter Mary and her partner, Heather Poe.

Although many of us, myself included, don’t like Mary’s politics, her existence proves that lesbian and gay families are indeed everywhere. As I’ve said before, despite her lackluster record, she may in fact be the kind of bridge we need to win over more people in support of our cause. The fact is, we’re not going to gain equality by turning everyone into liberals (much as I might like that). We’re going to win equality by convincing centrists and conservatives (though perhaps not ultra-conservatives) to join liberals in supporting our rights. The LGBT community is mad at Mary for not having been vocal about LGBT rights, and for backing the campaigns of those who are against them. We should be. But her mere existence may help persuade people that LGBT rights are more than just some liberal hogwash. Imagine what could happen if she really applied herself.

First, though, I expect she’ll be spending many sleepless nights with little Sarah Lynne. Some things really are bipartisan.

Sesame Street Sings of Two Dads

I was wrong. Well, sort of. Last week, I was bemoaning the lack of LGBT representation on Sesame Street. From the Twitter feed of the folks at Dottie’s Magic Pockets, however, comes a reminder of the below segment, “We All Sing the Same Song,” which has two children singing, “I have one daddy . . . I have two” (at about the 1:18 mark).

The song dates from 1982, according to the Muppet Wiki. Given the era, it remains unclear whether they were referring to a child with gay dads or a child with a straight dad and a stepdad. (If they were really into including LGBT families, you’d think we would have heard at least one other mention of them since.) Still, it’s a great song about family diversity to have on your playlist. Interpret it in whatever way works for you.

(I should also note that the folks behind Dottie have a new CD in the works, “The Super Secret Seashell Cave.” It’s available for preorder through their Web site, along with their lesbian- and gay-inclusive kids’ DVD.)

Crossing Barriers: “Mommies in Critical Care”

Here is the ninth in my series of quotes from Who’s Your Daddy? And Other Writings on Queer Parenting. I’ll be running them for a couple of weeks courtesy of the book’s editor, Rachel Epstein. I’m choosing the quotes I feel are most intriguing and thought provoking; I don’t always agree with the sentiments, but I hope they will spur some discussion in the comments and encourage you to seek out the book for yourselves.

For more on how to get this Canadian-published volume (and you should!), see my original post about it.

Today’s quote is from Diane Flacks’ “Mommies in Critical Care”: Read the rest of this post »

Lesbian and Gay Parents Are Not Better—and That’s Okay

Everyone’s been asking the question. The New York Times: “Are Same-Sex Couples Better Parents?” The Advocate: “Gay Parents Better than Straight?” SF Gate: “Are same-sex couples better parents?” The Dallas Voice: “Do gays and lesbians make better parents?”

All were talking about the research in Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children: Research on the Family Life Cycle, by Dr. Abbie Goldberg, which I discuss in my latest newspaper column.

Much as the competitive part of me would like to believe lesbians and gay men are better parents, it’s just not true. Goldberg clarified for me in an e-mail: Read the rest of this post »

Family Racism

Here is the eighth in my series of quotes from Who’s Your Daddy? And Other Writings on Queer Parenting. I’ll be running them for a couple of weeks courtesy of the book’s editor, Rachel Epstein. I’m choosing the quotes I feel are most intriguing and thought provoking; I don’t always agree with the sentiments, but I hope they will spur some discussion in the comments and encourage you to seek out the book for yourselves.

For more on how to get this Canadian-published volume (and you should!), see my original post about it.

Today’s quote is from “Little White Children: Notes from a Chicana Dyke Dad,” by Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, who is stepmother to her white girlfriend’s two white children:

Five hundred years of Latin American mixed-race families, and three generations of my own, have proven the notion of family does not save us from racism. . . .

And hiding racism does not stop the hurt. However, the fear of speaking through such difficult issues should not hinder us from loving anyway. What love does not involve fear, or submission, giving over so thoroughly you would sacrifice your own life to save your child’s life, or your lover’s? What love does not rely upon the difference between two bodies as a source of hunger? What do we imagine that we lose in acknowledging the racism between parents and children, and between siblings of different colours?

Legos and Marriage Equality

Long-time readers know we’re nutty about Legos here at the house of Mombian.

I was intrigued, therefore, by an article in The Morning News (via Make) in which author Giles Turnbull discusses Lego terminology. Different families, it seems, have different names for each of the little pieces, usually driven by what the children call them. A “two-er hole-y bit” could also be called a “connector, a “double cannon,” or a “two-studded slotty piece,” to cite just a few examples.

When an outsider comes into the picture, translation is necessary:

“Can you see any clippy bits?” my son asked his friend. The friend was flummoxed. “Do you mean handy bits?” he asked, pointing.

Communication—and creation—becomes difficult without standard terminology. It occurs to me that therein lies one of the major reasons for full marriage equality. It cuts across the many meanings of civil unions, domestic partnerships, civil partnerships, and such and gives us a common language with which to discuss one of the fundamental components of our society. (In this case, however, the number of studs and holes is irrelevant).

“Lego nomenclature is essential for family Lego building,” Turnbull asserts.

Family nomenclature is essential for society building, I would add.

“Infertile Homosexual Speaks!”

Here is the seventh in my series of quotes from Who’s Your Daddy? And Other Writings on Queer Parenting. I’ll be running them for a couple of weeks courtesy of the book’s editor, Rachel Epstein. I’m choosing the quotes I feel are most intriguing and thought provoking; I don’t always agree with the sentiments, but I hope they will spur some discussion in the comments and encourage you to seek out the book for yourselves.

For more on how to get this Canadian-published volume (and you should!), see my original post about it.

Today’s quote is from Shira Spector’s essay, “Red Rock Baby Candy: Infertile Homosexual Speaks!”: Read the rest of this post »

“I Am My Father’s Son”

Here is the sixth in my series of quotes from Who’s Your Daddy? And Other Writings on Queer Parenting. I’ll be running them for a couple of weeks courtesy of the book’s editor, Rachel Epstein. I’m choosing the quotes I feel are most intriguing and thought provoking; I don’t always agree with the sentiments, but I hope they will spur some discussion in the comments and encourage you to seek out the book for yourselves.

For more on how to get this Canadian-published volume (and you should!), see my original post about it.

I chose today’s quote in honor of the start of Transgender Awareness Week. It is from Jonathan Feakins’ essay, “I Am My Father’s Son”: Read the rest of this post »