(via Video: Congratulations, you’re having a lesbian)
PSA from Australia in support of marriage equality. Nicely done!
Alison Wearing on her new book, Confessions of a Fairy’s Daughter (by xtraonline)
Another book to add to the reading list.
Q.
From Xtra.ca:
Alison Wearing’s Confessions of a Fairy’s Daughter tells the story of a 12-year-old girl whose father comes out of the closet.
It happened more than 30 years ago, when Wearing lived with her family in small-town Ontario.
“I was 12 when [my father] came out,” Wearing says. “So I spent my adolescence telling stories about what was happening — making up stories, making up lies to cover up the dancing pink elephant behind me that I couldn’t reveal.”
(via Children of Same-Sex Couples Excel in Key Health Indicators: Study)
“An interim report found there was no statistical difference between children of same-sex couples and the rest of the population on indicators including self-esteem, emotional behaviour and the amount of time spent with parents.
However, children of same-sex couples scored higher than the national average for overall health and family cohesion, measuring how well the family members get along.
Riley Roberts testifies in favor of Marriage Equality (by planevada)
A very well spoken young man!
Q.
“18 year old Reno resident Riley Roberts testifies in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 15 before the Assembly Legislative Operations committee on May 9, 2013.
SJR13 would repeal language from Nevada’s constitution that excludes same sex couples and replaces it with language recognizing all marriages, regardless of the couple’s gender. SJR13 must pass the legislature in 2013, again in 2015, and will then go to a vote of the Nevada people in 2016.
(via Mother’s fight for transgender child who was born a boy to live as a girl | The Courier-Mail)
“She’s my girl,” the mother says. “I want her to be able to go to the girls’ toilets, like all the other girls.”
(via Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Celebrity News | TMZ.com)
Touching interview with Magic Johnson on his son’s coming out. Parenting, you’re doing it right.
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An Open Letter from a same-sex parent to the Supreme Court (by Jack Montgomery)
“I am not naive enough to think that any verdict of your court will change the opinions or hearts of the individuals we encounter on a daily basis. I accept that the stares our family receives walking down the street on a daily basis elicits both judgment and inspiration. What I do not accept is that the United States of America is willing to devalue my childrens’ family more than others and have a separate grouping of laws and benefits. I pray that as you rule on these cases that you keep Cardel (6), Raine (4), and Ravyn (3) in your hearts and do all in your power to keep deleterious obstacles from their lives.”
Homeless LGBT Youth Bear Witness to Religious Abuse and Rejection (by Alex Roque)
TW for talk of abuse, rejection
Clients of the Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBT Youth describe enduring religion based abuse and rejection from their families.
The American Academy of Pediatrics declared its support for same-sex marriage for the first time on Thursday, saying that allowing gay and lesbian parents to marry if they so choose is in the best interests of their children.
The academy’s new policy statement says same-sex marriage helps guarantee rights, benefits and long-term security for children, while acknowledging that it does not now ensure access to federal benefits.
When marriage is not an option, the academy said, children should not be deprived of foster care or adoption by single parents or couples, whatever their sexual orientation.
Daniel’s Letter To Chief Justice Roberts (by depfox)
Daniel’s letter is likely better than most of the briefs submitted to SCOTUS for the Prop 8 case. Have tissues at hand.
Q.
(via Polyamorous Family: Mom With Multiple Partners Raising 11-Year-Old-Girl (VIDEO))
This is just another example of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. It just so happens this village is also in a loving relationship and Colleen, it would seem from this brief clip, is being raised by a family who love her. Much the way children used to be raised, by aunties and uncles and siblings and cousins and others who loved the child and cared for their well being.
“The results of our review are clear,” said ASA President Cecilia Ridgeway. “There is no evidence that children with parents in stable same-sex or opposite-sex relationships differ in terms of well-being. Indeed, the greater stability offered by marriage for same-sex as well as opposite-sex parents may be an asset for child well-being.”
…
“When the social science evidence is exhaustively examined—which the ASA has done—the facts demonstrate that children fare just as well when raised by same-sex parents,” states the ASA amicus brief. “Unsubstantiated fears regarding same-sex child rearing do not overcome these facts and do not justify upholding DOMA and Proposition 8.”
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| — | American Sociological Association files amicus brief with US Supreme Court in same-sex marriage case. |
Puerto Rico Supreme Court upholds ban on gay couple adoptions
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court has narrowly voted to uphold a law banning gay couples from adopting children.
Photo: Nicholas Laughlin
Wednesday’s 5-4 vote comes in the case of an unidentified woman who sought to adopt a child that her partner had through in vitro fertilization.
A majority of judges upheld the constitutionality of a law specifying that a family is comprised of a mother and father, saying that is best for a child’s dignity and well-being.
Chief Justice Federico Hernandez Denton dissented. He also said that the plaintiff’s attorneys proved the adoption would benefit the child.
The vote comes as Puerto Rican legislators prepare to debate several bills that would extend more rights to gays and lesbians.
