Author: Brett

Both Eric and Ryan had always wanted to be dads.

“While the logistics can be almost paralyzing, we both knew it was always a possibility for us to become dads. We just had to find each other to begin our adoption journey,” Ryan said.

– Greg

http://www.campkc.com/campkc-content.php?Page_ID=1803

Today’s American families are increasingly diverse. Children may be raised by grandparents, single parents, stepparents, aunts, uncles or foster parents. Their parents may be married or unmarried; they may be heterosexual or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).

Outdated laws and social stigma hurt children who are being raised by “de facto” parents (a de facto parent functions as a parent to a child but is not a legally-recognized parent). De facto parents can include aunts, uncles, or grandparents who are
raising related children, or even close family friends who raise children with whom they have no biological ties. LGBT parents are also often de facto parents. This happens because only one same-sex parent can be a biological parent, and the law often prevents the second, non-biological parent from adopting or otherwise creating legal ties to his or her child.

– Greg

http://www.lgbtmap.org/file/lgbt-families-of-color-facts-at-a-glance.pdf

When Dylan, a shy 2-year-old with a pixie haircut, calls out “mama,” it’s tough to know which parent she means.

Michelle Fraker is the only parent listed on her daughter’s birth certificate.

But Dylan usually says “mommy” when she means Fraker, her birth mother, and “mama” when she means her other mother, Shawna Fox.

 

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/mom-and-mom-same-sex-couple-shares-parenthood/article_5992bcbf-fb2a-5d08-aefa-075a4d20e116.html

The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled yesterday that same-sex married couples who have a baby by artificial insemination are bound by the same child custody laws as heterosexual couples.

In a ruling released yesterday, the court said current state law gives the two same-sex spouses equal legal standing when a child conceived by artificial means is born during their marriage, though the law refers to a “husband’’ and a “married woman.’’

 

http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-03/metro/31015973_1_child-custody-laws-couples-appeals-court

 

The weekly adventures of Modern Family‘s gay parents Mitchell and Cameron highlight a common contemporary media image of gay parenting: wealthy, urban, white gay men raising an adopted child. However,U.S. Census Bureau data suggest that same-sex couples raising children are substantially more diverse than these media images. Notably, the data show big differences between same-sex couples who adopt and other same-sex couples. While those who adopt look more like Mitch and Cam, those who are raising biological or stepchildren are younger, more racially and ethnically diverse, and have lower incomes.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-j-gates/for-samesex-couples-a-tal_b_1277784.html

WASHINGTON, February 27, 2012 — The state of Virginia is poised to make it legal for private adoption agencies to reject parents based on their sexual orientation.

The Republican-led Virginia General Assembly voted in favor of what it terms a “conscience clause” which would allow state-funded private adoption agencies to choose parents it finds acceptable for adoption.

 

This is an extremely unusual move for a state legislature.  Just one other state—North Dakota—has put measures in place enabling state-funded agencies to reject potential-parents based on agency beliefs.

 

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/red-thread-adoptive-family-forum/2012/feb/27/virginia-legalizes-discrimination-against-gay-pare/

RICHMOND — Private adoption agencies could deny placing children with prospective parents who are gay under a bill that received final approval in the Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday.

 

The Senate voted 22-18 to pass the bill and send it to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has said he will sign it. Virginia will become just the second state with such a law, which proponents said was modeled after North Dakota’s statute. The legislation allows agencies to deny placements that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality.

 

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20120222/NEWS01/202220318/Contentious-gay-adoption-bill-passed