Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

MOMBIAN 2015: A year of progress, more to do
VIEWS
by Dana Rudolph
2015-12-30

This article shared 5128 times since Wed Dec 30, 2015
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


What a year. It's tempting, in a year-end wrap-up, to put a big bow on what we put a ring on and call it a day. While marriage brought us many advances, however, it also highlighted other issues that we still need to tackle in order to bring full equality and inclusion to LGBTQ parents and our children.

Marriage equality is, of course, a big deal. The win in Obergefell v. Hodges not only brought marriage to same-sex couples, but put same-sex parents and our children front and center in the case and in the public eye. Most of the plaintiffs were parents. And Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion, showed he understood the importance of marriage for our children, saying, "Without the recognition, stability, and predictability marriage offers, children suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser. They also suffer the significant material costs of being raised by unmarried parents, relegated to a more difficult and uncertain family life. The marriage laws at issue thus harm and humiliate the children of same-sex couples."

He wisely cautioned, though, that marriage is also meaningful even for those who cannot or choose not to procreate—thus addressing one of the leading arguments against marriage equality, that marriage is entirely about procreation.

Marriage equality expanded parental rights in some states. Twelve states ( Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas ) did not permit same-sex couples to adopt children jointly before Obergefell, according to a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts, citing the Human Rights Campaign. After Obergefell, however, that restriction has crumbled in all but Mississippi. Four couples are now challenging the Mississippi ban in federal court with the help of attorney Roberta Kaplan ( a lesbian mom herself ), who successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 to bring down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Our equal access to adoption and fostering is threatened, however, by "religious freedom" laws in North Dakota, Michigan and Virginia ( and under discussion in several other states ). These laws permit child-welfare agencies receiving state money to refuse to place children with same-sex couples or other LGBTQ people if doing so conflicts with their religious beliefs.

And Kansas state Rep. Jim Ward ( D-Wichita ) has requested that legislative auditors investigate the state's Department of Children and Families over what he calls "systemic" discrimination against LGBT people in adoption and foster care.

Same-sex couples have also had to file lawsuits in several states in order to have both parents' names put on their children's birth certificates. In October, a couple in Utah was awarded $24,000 in legal fees after they won their case, but cases from couples in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina and Wisconsin are still pending or being appealed.

A note of caution: While accurate birth certificates are necessary for enrolling a child in school, getting a passport and applying for various other benefits, they are still not sufficient for someone to be recognized as a parent in all jurisdictions and circumstances, many LGBTQ legal organizations have said ( and the judge in the Arkansas case himself indicated ). Second-parent adoptions or court judgments of parentage are still recommended.

Even adoptions, however, are under attack ( although I have great hope the threat will fail ). The Alabama Supreme Court, in September, refused to recognize three second-parent adoptions done in Georgia by a lesbian mom living in Alabama. The U.S. Supreme Court, on Dec. 14, granted an emergency stay of the order, giving the woman visitation with her children until the U.S. Supreme Court either rules on the case or refuses to take it. The whole situation is ugly, with one mom trying to deny her ex-partner any parental status and calling into question the validity of adoptions from state to state.

A similar case of parental breakup shows that we still are not equal when it comes to recognizing unmarried parents. In September, a Maryland court upheld a ruling denying parental standing ( and thus visitation rights ) to a nonbiological mom because she and the biological mom were not married at the time of their child's birth—even though they had planned and were raising the child together, and eventually married. The judge indicated that in the same circumstances, the father in a different-sex unmarried couple would likely have been recognized, but current law did not allow recognition of a nonbiological mother.

We also lack full equality in other areas. Lack of non-discrimination protections means that people can still be fired or denied housing in many states for being LGBTQ. Transgender people, married or not, are still in much earlier stages of legal recognition and social acceptance. These inequalities negatively impact children of LGBTQ parents as well.

Additionally, respect does not necessarily follow legality. There are still places in this country where I would be afraid to hold hands with my spouse. Kids still get bullied for being LGBTQ or having LGBTQ parents. LGBTQ families of color remain at a disadvantage because of the systemic racism in our society. And despite advances, we need even more representation in books and other media of LGBTQ families in all our diversity—of family structure, race, religion, socioeconomic class, and more.

This year will stand as a watershed year, however. Our work towards LGBTQ equality is not done, nor is the work of social justice in other arenas done—but 2015 gave us one shining example of what progress looks like.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian ( mombian.com ), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBTQ parents.


This article shared 5128 times since Wed Dec 30, 2015
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

VIEWS Mike Johnson: The smiling face of Christian tyranny 2024-02-14
- Mike Johnson wants to rewrite the constitution to make the United States a Christian nation. James Michael Johnson, Republican from Louisiana's Fourth District, is the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was ...


Gay News

VIEWS Parents, not legislators, should be making decisions about medical options for children 2024-02-06
By Jeffery M. Leving - No matter the medical issue, when it comes to kids, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said something last December that every lawmaker in the country should realize when it comes to medical decisions for children. "Were House ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Sundance items, Green Day, 'Wednesday,' Queerties, 'The Wiz' 2024-01-26
- At the Sundance Film Festival, Jodie Foster told Variety that the $1.4-billion success of Barbie helps confirm that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. She said, "With a big success ...


Gay News

VIEWS Is the Pope Catholic? Francis faces opposition in steps toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity 2024-01-02
- The recent change in Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-gender couples has provoked an unprecedented backlash against Pope Francis and his openness to LGBTQ+ people—a backlash that some fear might devolve into a schism in ...


Gay News

Bring Chicago Home: Guess who's saying no again 2023-12-04
Commentary by Bob Palmer and Mark Swartz - Chicago is ushering in an era of change with a new progressive mayor with a vision to invest in communities long ignored and a significant increase in like-minded city council members. We are excited to see ...


Gay News

Pope Francis's community of transwomen 2023-11-28
- It's a rare opportunity to meet the pope. It's even rarer if you're a transgender Catholic. However, on Nov. 19, in Torvaianica, Italy, a community of transwomen, many of them sex workers, were welcomed and seated ...


Gay News

Banning the Banning of Books: Illinois and California lead the way 2023-10-26
- In June, at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation banning book bans in Illinois public libraries. This legislation, initiated by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, passed the Illinois House and ...


Gay News

OPINION Renewing state's Invest in Kids program is investing in anti-LGBTQ+ hate 2023-10-23
- In February 2020, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield warned transgender students in the Diocese's educational system that they "may be expelled from the school" if they live their lives authentically. Lansing Christian School ...


Gay News

Gilbert Baker Foundation reacts to death of shop owner who flew the rainbow flag 2023-08-29
--From a press release - In response to the murder of Laura Ann Carleton over flying the Rainbow flag in her shop in California, the Gilbert Baker Foundation released the statement below. Facebook refused to post the statement as it did not "...meet their standards." ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT U.S. higher education under siege; freedom of inquiry and speech at risk 2023-07-03
- The Covid pandemic threw a harsh spotlight on higher education in America, exposing forces eating away at the foundations of college and university learning, calling into question the traditional purposes of such education in our post-modern, ...


Gay News

Guest essay by Florida mom Nicole Pejovich: What's Happening to Florida's Public Schools? 2023-06-19
Related video below - A queer Florida parent answers questions about recent laws, how Floridians are coping, and how you can help Books pulled from school library shelves by the dozens. All evidence of inclusivity stripped from classrooms. The politically ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT For divorced parents, transgender children's health can present tricky dilemmas 2023-06-12
- Over the last few months, issues impacting individuals who identify as transgender and non-binary are getting a lot of attention in the media and among some politicians. Sadly, because it's become a political issue; a lot ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT War in the 21st Century: mercenaries, private military companies, private armies 2023-05-20
- In 2022, $407 billion of the Pentagon budget—representing half of that year's funding —were obligated to private contractors, of which a significant number were Private Military Companies (PMCs) involved in ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT Telling the world about my mental health disorders 2023-05-04
- Over the years, coming out as a lesbian hasn't been that hard for me—because I was always too busy hiding something else. Confessing queerness can be a breeze compared to revealing mental illness. But I decline ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT German bishops endorse blessings of same-sex couples: Ancient rituals retturn 2023-03-31
- This March, at a national meeting of leaders of the German Catholic Church (referred to as a synod), a document titled Blessing Ceremonies for Couples who Love Each Other" received overwhelming support: 176 votes in favor, ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.