I could talk about the fact that the new pope called adoption by gay parents a form of  “discrimination against children.” But are we really surprised by this? I could talk about how the National Organization for Marriage insulted adoptive parents of all types (including U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts) as well as same-sex parents. Again: It’s NOM. Are we surprised? But the next couple of weeks are going to be full of perturbing marriage- and parenting-related news, I’m sure, as the U.S. Supreme Court gets set to hear two marriage equality cases on March 26. I’ve chosen, therefore, to highlight some of the positive news of the week for LGBT families. Have a great weekend, all!
- While marriage is still illegal for same-sex couples in Michigan, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, whose reservation lies within Michigan’s boundaries, has legalized it, the third Native American tribe to do so. At least one member of the couple has to be a member of the tribe.
- New Zealand looks set to be the next country in the world to legalize marriage for same-sex couples (and you could then have a honeymoon in all the places where they filmed Lord of the Rings).
- Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, once an opponent of marriage equality, has come to support it after learning that his son is gay. He wrote in the Columbus Dispatch (via ThinkProgress), “One way to look at it is that gay couples’ desire to marry doesn’t amount to a threat but rather a tribute to marriage, and a potential source of renewed strength for the institution.”  That’s a lovely sentiment—although I still think he’s covering his political backside by also saying, “I believe change should come about through the democratic process in the states. Judicial intervention from Washington would circumvent that process.” Still, Portman’s change of heart shows the power of family, and that’s enough for me to consider it good news here.