LGBTQ Parenting Roundup
Here’s some of the news about LGBTQ parents and our families that I haven’t covered separately, from reflections on parenting to political news and more. Have a read and be informed!
Advocating
Finding Courage: Zach Wahls’s Viral Marriage Equality Speech and His Advice for LGBTQ Families Today
In 2011, a 19-year-old named Zach Wahls gave a speech to the Iowa legislature during the state’s marriage equality battles, describing his life with two moms. It went viral, catching national attention. Wahls, now a two-term Iowa state senator running for U.S. Senate, spoke with me for the speech’s 15th anniversary, looking at its impact and offering advice for parents and young people today.
New Federal ‘Don’t Say Trans’ and Book Ban Bill Could Have Wide Repercussions
House Republicans have introduced a bill that would ban books, activities, and programs that mention trans people—and potentially all LGBTQ people—from K-12 public schools nationwide.
The State of the Union and the Need for LGBTQ Stories
In his State of the Union address last night, the president used a young person to try and show the harms of gender transition. I thus feel the need to say again to trans youth: your gender identities are valid and you are worthy. As vile as the president’s speech was, though, it offers a lesson that can help people take action against its content.
Queer Representation in Children’s Media: An Interview With Chris Nee and Kristi Reed
Three-time Emmy Award-winning children’s TV screenwriter and producer Chris Nee and Emmy Award-winning animation casting and voice director Kristi Reed spoke with me about increasing queer representation in children’s media, the state of the industry, and what we can all do to help.
4 Queer-Inclusive Middle Grade Books for the Winter Olympics
Let’s keep the Olympic theme going this week with four queer-inclusive middle grade books about Winter Olympic sports (even if not all of the protagonists are quite at Olympic level yet).
Queer Parents to Watch in the Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics are almost here, which means that at Mombian, it’s time once again to honor those who are not only Winter Olympians, but also queer parents.
A Queer Mom in a Knit Cap: Thinking of Renee Good
In tragedy and grief, sometimes the smallest details sear themselves in our minds. I can’t stop thinking about Renee Good’s knit cap.
Ousted Space Force Colonel and Transgender Mom Is Running for Congress
U.S. Space Force Colonel Bree Fram, who was forced into retirement simply for being transgender, has announced she is running for Congress in Northern Virginia. She also has two kids, and has spoken of how she is motivated by the need to make a better world for all children.
Celebrate 15 Years of Advocacy With Zach Wahls (and Me)
When Zach Wahls was 19, his speech to the Iowa legislature about his two moms helped shift the conversation around marriage equality. Wahls, now a two-term state senator running for U.S. Senate, is marking the speech’s 15th anniversary with a Zoom event next week. I’m one of the speakers, and hope you’ll join us.