tagged w/ Gay Parenting
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On Thursday, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) introduced H.R. 635, the “Parental Title Protection Act,” which would require all federal agencies and contractors to use the words “mother” and “father” when describing parents on all official documents and forms. This bill is a direct attack on actions by the State Department, which we told you about last month, to make passport forms inclusive of all families by adding “parent 1” and “parent 2” alongside “mother” and “father.” In a press release, Forbes argues that “symbolism is important” and that his legislation is necessary to prevent even “subtle” changes that “undermine the traditional American family relationships that have served as the bedrock of our nation since its inception.”
Forbes’ bill ignores the reality of millions of children being raised by same-sex couples in this country. Those children deserve the same recognition and protection from the federal government that other American families enjoy. Rep. Forbes is right that symbolism is important – his bill is emblematic of a brand of Republicans callously willing, time after time, to attack LGBT people and their children in order to score cheap political points.On Thursday, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) introduced H.R. 635, the “Parental Title... more
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Bryan Safi is always eager to hop on a Hollywood trend. So with "The Kids Are All Right" winning big at the Golden Globes and celebrity gays adopting children quicker than Bryan can read a gossip blog, infoMania's "That's Gay" correspondent weighs becoming a dad himself. Job One: Finding another guy to raise a kid with. A visit to a group of gay dads and their kids then helps Bryan devise Job Two: Find a co-dad who will do most of the child-rearing, because apparently it's a lot of work.
That's Gay is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of That's Gay, Bryan Safi explores gay issues and stereotypes as they are portrayed by the clueless media. For more Bryan visit http://current.com/groups/thats-gay/ and Current TV.
infoMania is a half-hour comedy show that airs weekly on Current TV. Picture the ultimate office water-cooler, only with funnier co-workers who willingly stay up late imbibing all forms of media so you don't have to. Caveat: Bring your own water. Hosted by Brett Erlich and co-starring Sergio Cilli, Erin Gibson, Ben Hoffman and Bryan Safi, infoMania airs on Thursdays at 11/10c on Current TV.
Go to http://current.com/infomania for more, and make sure to check out our Facebook profile for special features at http://facebook.com/infomania.Bryan Safi is always eager to hop on a Hollywood trend. So with "The Kids Are All... more
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Groups protest decision not to re-enroll child of lesbians
March 8, 2010 9:01 p.m. EST
(CNN) -- Gay and lesbian groups are attacking a decision by the archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, not to re-enroll a child in a Catholic school in Boulder, Colorado, next year because the child's parents are lesbians.
The issue centers on the Sacred Heart of Jesus School, where the pre-schooler is currently enrolled.
"The Archdiocese of Denver has acted very unjustly in singling out this child for exclusion," said DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke in a written statement Monday. "Until every student's parents are tested on Catholic teaching, this action by Catholic officials cannot be understood as anything other than discrimination on the back of a child. At a tender age, this child has learned that Catholic officials are willing to inflict pain on children and families."
The decision was made public last week.
"These actions by the Denver Archdiocese harm the student by taking the child away from friends, teachers and community," said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "It's deeply troubling to see any school remove a child from their educational program simply as the means of rejecting that child's parents."
But the archdiocese defended its decision.
Video: School blocks gay parents' kid
"Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment," it said in a statement posted on its Web site. "To allow children in these circumstances to continue in our school would be a cause of confusion for the student in that what they are being taught in school conflicts with what they experience in the home.
"We communicated the policy to the couple at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School as soon as we realized the situation. We discussed the reasons with them and have sought to respond in a way that does not abruptly displace the student but at the same time respects the integrity of the Catholic school's philosophy."
In a posting of his sermon, the Rev. Bill Breslin, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, supported the move.
"The issue is not about our not accepting 'sinners,' " he said. "It is not about punishing the child for the sins of his or her parents. It is simply that the lesbian couple is saying that their relationship is a good one that should be accepted by everyone; and the Church cannot agree to that."
About 30 opponents of the move -- "mostly hetero allies of the gay community" -- protested Sunday outside the church during Mass, said Dave Ensign, board president of Boulder Pride, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center and services organization.
Ensign handed out flyers to the protesters and then joined the parishioners as they listened to the sermon defending the church's move. "I was disappointed, but it was pretty much what I was expecting to hear," he said.
He added that the larger community's reaction has been positive, saying, "When people hear about this, they speak up, and I think that says a lot about our community."
The child has not been identified publicly. No one at the archdiocese or at the school immediately returned calls Monday seeking comment.Groups protest decision not to re-enroll child of lesbians
March 8, 2010 9:01 p.m.... more
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The LGBT Foster Care Coalition, including founding member Center Kids (the Center's family program), sponsored a parent recruitment forum at the Center. LGBT foster parents and children in care talked about their experiences with the system and offered advice to audience members interested in fostering or adopting a child. For more information on the LGBT Foster Care Coalition go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/families.The LGBT Foster Care Coalition, including founding member Center Kids (the... more
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Even though it is much more difficult (and expensive) for gay men as opposed to lesbian couples to have children, more and more are choosing the possibility of becoming a biological father with the help of a surrogate mother.
Fertility clinics and surrogacy programs report increased interest from gay men, who often consider getting marriage in order to provide more security and stability for their children.
"We wanted our daughter to know her parents were married — that was the big thing for us," said Tommy Starling of Pawley's Island, South Carolina, who wed his partner of 12 years, Jeff Littlefield, on July 11 in Hollywood. Their two-year-old daughter, Carrigan, was present at the ceremony.
Starling said he and Littlefield had tried previously to adopt a child, but encountered anti-gay hostility. Therefore, the couple opted to become parents through a surrogacy program which can cost up to $150,000, instead.
Gail Taylor, president of surrogacy organistation Growing Generations, believes the option of marriage will, over time, lead to more biological gay dads. "For future generations, knowing they can fall in love, get married, have a child — absolutely, that will become a way of life more than it is," she said. Even though it is much more difficult (and expensive) for gay men as opposed to... more
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Catholic bishops have urged voters to oppose parties supporting parenting by same-sex couples in New Zealand's upcoming general election.
According to the official statement, the Church believes that children need the attention of both a mother and father, because each contributes differently to their development.
Even though the church claims not to be party political, this is not the first time it has used an election in New Zealand to promote its moral views, especially on conscience-vote topics.
Do you think the church has a right to tell voters what to do? And what do you make of the argument that same-sex couples are unfit parents? Is it really impossible for lesbian and gay couples to create an environment in which children are exposed to both male and female influences and do you think the latter is a must given that children of single mothers (or fathers) don't necessarily suffer from 'abnormal' development? Catholic bishops have urged voters to oppose parties supporting parenting by same-sex... more
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