Personal Stories
- Nina at Queercents discusses the various factors she and her spouse are weighing as they consider whether to have a second child.
Schools and Education
- A federal judge ruled that the Gay-Straight Alliance at Florida’s Yulee High School can meet on campus, with the same privileges as other student groups, and does not have to change its name to eliminate references to a specific sexual orientation. The group may continue advocating “for tolerance, respect and equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”
- The GLBTQ Online High School, the first of its kind, will launch in January 2010. Founder David Glick says he wants to reach students in rural areas and be a safe-haven from bullying. Others worry that this will further isolated the students from their peers.
Youth Services
- Actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) is becoming a major donor of the Trevor Project, an organization that works to prevent suicide among LGBT youth. He explained:
It’s extremely distressing to consider that in 2009 suicide is a top three killer of young people, and it’s truly devastating to learn that LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. I deeply hope my support can raise the organization’s visibility so even more despondent youth become aware of The Trevor Helpline’s highly trained counselors and Trevor’s many other resources. It’s vitally important that young people understand they are not alone and, perhaps even more important, that their young lives have real value.
Seems like Hermione, with her Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, wasn’t the only one interested in social justice.
- 365gay.com has a long feature on the struggles of LGBTQ youth.
Politics and Law
- Nancy Polikoff, with data from Dutch law professor Kees Waaldijk, gives us an update on the status of lesbian couples as parents in Europe. Europe is ahead of the U.S. in some respects, but falls short of cutting-edge laws like the new statute in Washington, D.C.
- Equality Louisiana proposed to the Louisiana Commission on Marriage and Family that the state should allow same-sex couples to adopt children together. Commission members gave the idea “a frosty reception.”
Fun
- Not exactly parenting related, but if you’re in New York, you might want to take the kiddies out for some Big Gay Ice Cream.