An Unlikely Friendship

Last week, I pointed out a moving post from Blogging for LGBT Families Day written by Haley Montgomery, a conservative evangelical Christian who was struggling to work through the issue of marriage equality, trying to reconcile her beliefs with the stories of loving LGBT families she was reading online.

This week, I want to highlight another contributed post, this time from the blog May the Beauty. The author describes herself as “a 6 feet tall, spirited, wordy, loving, coffee serving, cheese-ball. Also known as a Mother, Wife, Partner, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Lesbian, Friend, Neighbor and Christian.”

In her post, she describes a close friend who nevertheless voted Yes on Prop 8. She, like Haley, tries to navigate the often complex intersection of belief, friendship, and family: Read the rest of this post »

This Is How Change Is Made: A Story from Blogging for LGBT Families Day

Of all the posts submitted to Blogging for LGBT Families Day, the one that has made the greatest impression on me is: “The One Where I Come Out… And Say It,” by Haley Montgomery, aka eyeJunkie. Haley describes herself as “a politically conservative, white, heterosexual, middle class evangelical Christian from Mississippi. And, I’m probably pretty close to who you think I am when I write those words.”

In her post, she makes the surprising admission of being a regular reader of LesbianDad, a blog likely familiar to many of you. For those who don’t know Polly and her wonderful blog, Haley’s description is actually pretty accurate: “one of those crazy, liberal Californians, Berkeley graduate, feminist, Buddhist, lesbian activist. She’s also a ‘Baba’ of two children and an excellent writer and photographer. She and her wife have one of the 18,000 marriages that were upheld by the California Supreme Court last week when it also upheld Proposition 8.”

Haley observes that her reading of Polly’s blog “is likely to ilicit [sic] the same ‘duh’ response of outrage from both the LGBT and conservative reader-types, but I’m sitting squarely on the (barbed wire) fence on this whole gay marriage issue.” Read the rest of this post »

Blogging for LGBT Families Day: Thank You!

I am once again dazzled by the range of contributions to Blogging for LGBT Families Day. We heard from LGBT parents across the gender spectrum, children of LGBT parents, other LGBT people, and allies. There were a number of posts in Spanish. There were old timers, who have contributed to all four years of this event, as well as many new voices. Thanks to all of you who participated and who continue to define and illuminate the great diversity of LGBT families.

Over the next few days, I’ll be reading through the posts and highlighting a few that catch my eye. Please leave a comment if there are some that catch yours (other than your own).

(And if you didn’t participate, but would like to, go ahead and sneak in your post. I’m a parent. Late is standard.)

Blogging for LGBT Families Day 2009: Contributed Posts

Welcome to Blogging for LGBT Families Day! Below is the master list of contributed posts. Please enjoy!

To submit a post, complete the form at the end of this post, after the jump. If you don’t have a blog of your own (but only then), please leave your contribution in a comment.

[It's not too late: I'm lax about the end time, anyway—I'm a parent and know what it means to be running late. Thanks to all who have already submitted posts!]

A special thanks to the Family Equality Council for sponsoring the event and donating a free registration to Family Week in Provincetown for the drawing. Thanks also to author Sarah Brannen, who contributed a signed copy of her book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. (See end of post for details of drawing.)

Thanks as well to The Bilerico Project, COLAGE, HRC, PageOneQ, and the many others who went the extra mile in encouraging participation.

I hope you take the time to read other people’s posts and enjoy the diversity of the LGBT community and our allies. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing up some posts that pull together various themes that emerge.

Posts are included in submission order.
Read the rest of this post »

One Week to Go: Blogging for LGBT Families Day

There’s only one week left before the 4th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families Day on Monday, June 1!

Please help get the word out through your blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. The more of us who participate, the more impact we can have. Grab a banner here.

Posts are already starting to trickle in. While it’s more fun if we all post on the same day, I’m happy to take early posts if you’re going to be away on the 1st. Just complete the form at the bottom of this post, after the jump.

Remember, the Family Equality Council, the event sponsor, has donated a free Family Registration to Family Week 2009 in Provincetown. I will give this away to one randomly selected participant.

Also, author Sarah Brannen has offered a signed copy of her picture book Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. It’s the delightful tale of a young guinea pig named Chloe, who is concerned that her uncle will no longer have time for her after he marries his boyfriend. It’s a reassuring tale for all children, regardless of family type. I’ll give that away to a random participant as well.

Here’s how it works: Read the rest of this post »

Blogging for LGBT Families Day 2009: Win Registration to Family Week in P’town

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.

I chose the date not only because it is the start of Pride Month, but also because it sits almost directly between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, honoring both while acknowledging that not all families fit the traditional model.

I am also very pleased to announce that the Family Equality Council will once again be sponsoring the event, and has donated a free Family Registration to Family Week 2009 in Provincetown. I will give this away to one randomly selected participant.

Here’s how it works: Read the rest of this post »

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.

Over 400 Posts Contributed for Write to Marry Day

Wow. Bloggers contributed over 400 posts for Write to Marry Day, sharing both personal and political reasons for standing against California’s Proposition 8. Participants included both LGBT bloggers and non-LGBT allies, parents, people of faith, national and state LGBT and civil rights organizations, and blogs both large and small.

Many thanks to all of you who posted and encouraged others to do so. I know many of you have been writing against Prop 8 for months now. I hope our united voices helped each of ours carry a little farther.

Mike Rogers, the co-organizer, and I have picked a winner of the $50 Amazon.com gift certificate out of participants who left a valid e-mail address. Fran, whose entry is here, won the contest. (We’ll continue to take late submissions of posts throughout today, but the contest is closed.)

Four hundred posts is a lot to read through, so I’ll ask all of you to comment here on ones that caught your eye. Which did you find the most touching, funny, or convincing? Which ones spoke to you, and which ones will you pass on to family and friends?

Despite the success of this event, things are looking grim for equality right now. No On 8 told people yesterday: “Unless we raise $3 million in the next three days we will likely lose.”

To move the message, the campaign must push hard in print, radio and television ads. Please go to the Equality for All ActBlue page to give your donations.

Also, breaking news this morning is that the No On Prop 8 page is being hit by a denial-of-service attack designed to block others from accessing the site. It’s up as of this writing, but has been iffy. The Equality for All ActBlue page is still working, however, so people can continue to give even in the face of this heinous act.

Money is the greatest need, but community leaders in California are also reminding people:

• For those who vote in California: Don’t Stop at the Top! – Propositions are at the bottom of the ballot. At Don’t Stop at the Top people can submit mobile numbers of friends in California so on election day they are reminded to vote down ballot.
• No On 8 is seeking volunteers to help with Get Out The Vote efforts throughout the state. To volunteer, visit the No On 8’s Netroots page.

Write to Marry Day: Contributed Posts

Below (after the jump) is the master list of OVER 400 posts contributed for Write to Marry Day. Thanks to all are who participating.

I’m still taking posts, to account for differences in time zones and allow for some latecomers. Submit your link through the form at the end of this post, after the jump.

Special Update from No On 8: No On 8 is now telling people: “Unless we raise $3 million in the next three days we will likely lose.”

If you have not yet donated money to the No On 8 campaign, or wish to do so again, please do so here.

I will update this list as quickly as possible, but submitted posts may not appear immediately. Please be patient. [UPDATED AS OF November 1, 8:15 p.m. Eastern. New posts at bottom of list below.]

Contributed posts are after the jump. Read the rest of this post »

Join Us October 29 for Write to Marry Day

Please join bloggers around the country and around the world on Wednesday, October 29 to blog in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and against California’s Proposition 8.

The event will give bloggers a chance to voice their opposition to Prop 8 and highlight what they may have already done, online or off, to stop the measure. The campaign will also educate California voters of the need to “go all the way” down the ballot to vote on the proposition.

Mike Rogers of PageOneQ approached me last week to ask if I’d organize a blog carnival like Blogging for LGBT Families Day, but this time to help generate awareness and action against Prop 8. I readily agreed, and here it is.

To participate, post on your own blog against Prop 8 on or before October 29, 2008, then submit the link to your post by completing the form below. Links to your own videos on YouTube or other video sites are also accepted.

Many of you have already done much to try and stop Prop 8 in California, donating and raising money, blogging, and talking with friends and family. Please share your efforts and post about them for Write to Marry Day, or submit a link to a previous post. This will help us create a comprehensive view of bloggers’ efforts to stop Prop 8.

I urge you to spread the word about this event as widely as possible, on both LGBT and mainstream sites. All bloggers who are against Prop 8 are welcome to contribute posts, regardless of where they live or whether they are LGBT or not.

I will showcase the full list of participants here on October 29.

Not only that, but all participants who leave a valid e-mail address will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

You can track this event by joining the Write to Marry event on Facebook or MySpace, or by following Mombian on Twitter.

Thanks to corporate sponsors Witeck-Combs Communications and Renna Communications for their with the event. Thanks also to Mike Tidmus for the graphics.

Download an event banner here for use on your own blogs. Submit your posts below.