Proud Parenting

LGBTQ Parents - Lesbian Moms & Gay Dads

Leader of Family Equality Council invites Republican gubernatorial candidate to family dinner

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Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Karen Handel recently said gay parenting is not “in the best interest of the child.” Handel admitted in an interview she does not know any gay parents, so she’s been invited to share a family dinner with executive director of Family Equality Council – Jennifer Chrisler (pictured with her family).

Chrisler points out in an editorial for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that’s it’s common to fear that which you do not know. Karen Handel also stated she would outlaw gay adoptions.

Chrisler says: “We invite her to dinner to meet us and our children, to get a glimpse into life as a gay family. If she cares enough about children waiting for homes she will say yes. She will say yes to experiencing a typical family meal, yes to witnessing love and yes to probably some spilled spaghetti on the floor.”

Senator Al Franken introduces legal protections to help end LGBT discrimination in schools

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The Student Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced by Senator Al Franken and 22 co-sponsors. The SNDA would prohibit discrimination in schools on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. It’s noted as an important step toward ensuring that all students are valued and respected and can learn in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.

According to GLSEN – the Senate version is a companion bill to H.R. 4530, introduced by Rep. Jared Polis in the House early this year. Rep. Polis’s bill currently has the support of over 100 representatives.

“GLSEN thanks Senator Franken and SNDA’s 22 Senate cosponsors for making a commitment to ensuring that LGBT students can learn without the fear of being discriminated against simply for who they are,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “SNDA will send a clear message to schools that they must address the hostile environment many LGBT students face in schools.”

3/1/2008
Children of LGBT parents are typically harassed in school. A new report proves need for anti-bullying policies.

Current estimates indicate there are more than seven million LGBT parents with school-age children in the United States.

A new report called: Involved, Invisible, Ignored: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents and Their Children in Our Nation’s K-12 Schools, examines and highlights the school experiences of LGBT-headed families – using results from surveys of LGBT parents of children in K-12 schools and of secondary students who have LGBT parents.

It’s the first comprehensive report on the educational experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families.

One major conclusion found that LGBT parents are more likely to be involved in their children’s K-12 education than the general parent population. The details showed that we are more involved in school activities and more likely to practice consistent communication with school personnel.

The research was released by GLSEN, (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) – in partnership with the Family Equality Council and COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere).

Unfortunately, the data also indicates that both LGBT parents – and children of LGBT parents – experience harassment because of their family structure.

Among the key findings:

  • Nearly a quarter of students felt unsafe around other students at school due to others’ negative attitudes toward people with LGBT parents.
  • 42% of students said they had been verbally harassed at school in the past year because their parents were LGBT.
  • More than half of parents described various forms of exclusion from their school communities: being excluded or prevented from fully participating in school activities and events, being excluded by school policies and procedures, and being ignored and feeling invisible.
  • Parents whose child’s school had a comprehensive safe school policy that protected students from bullying and harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression/identity reported the lowest level of mistreatment and that there were no differences between the no-policy and generic-policy groups.

“I want my sons’ school environment to give them the opportunity to learn without harassment, and I want to be a welcomed and integral part of their educational experience as they grow,” said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council. “This report shows when schools have anti-bullying policies that are inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, the rates of harassment are lowered dramatically. These policies and comprehensive diversity curricula are tools that can curb mistreatment and bolster participation from all families. Knowing what works is a start, but schools have a long way to go and much left to do in putting them to the best and fullest use for our kids.”

About the Family Equality Council

The Family Equality Council (formerly Family Pride) is the national advocacy organization committed to securing family equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents, guardians and allies. Our work consists of strategically linked initiatives—broad in scope, but simple in vision—love, justice, family, equality.

About COLAGE

COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy.

About GLSEN

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on our educator resources, research, public policy agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives.

Article adapted by ProudParenting.com from original press release.
Image Source: COLAGE.org

Obama makes explicit his objection to the Defense of Marriage Act

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The Washington Post reports:

President Obama made clear that he favors the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA], and intends to ask Congress to repeal the 13-year-old law that denies benefits to domestic partners of federal employees and allows states to reject same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Obama has long opposed the law, which he has called discriminatory. But his Justice Department has angered the gay community, which favored Obama by a wide margin in last year’s election, by defending the law in court. The administration has said it is standard practice for the Justice Department to do so, even for laws that it does not agree with.

For the first time, the filing itself made clear that the administration “does not support DOMA as a matter of policy, believes that it is discriminatory, and supports its repeal.”

Obama and his senior advisers have made that statement before, but never in a court brief. In addition, Obama issued a statement noting that, although his administration is again defending DOMA in court, “this brief makes clear…that my administration believes the act is discriminatory and should be repealed by Congress.”

“While we work with Congress to repeal DOMA, my administration will continue to examine and implement measures that will help extend rights and benefits to LGBT couples under existing law,” Obama said in the statement.

6/18/2009
Obama extends a few partner benefits to lesbian and gay federal employees

Jennifer Chrisler [left] sent an email to members of Family Equality Council to describe her experience in the Oval Office with President Obama. She was present when he signed a Presidential Memorandum – extending certain domestic partner benefits to federal employees.

She writes: “All American families face challenges, but our families encounter unique obstacles when trying to protect our children and our partners. The language in this memo signed by President Obama addresses some of those complex realities,” Chrisler said. “President Obama’s actions will help thousands of committed, same-sex couples working for the federal government ensure their families’ security. While today’s memorandum falls short, it does move us forward. There is much more work to be done to recognize the wide diversity of families that live and work in this country, including families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration in the future as it takes the next steps to ensure equal protection and treatment of all American families.”

Catch Jennifer on Twitter.

8/2/2008
Barack Obama’s message to lesbian and gay parents

“We have to do more to support and strengthen LGBT families. Because equality in relationship, family, and adoption rights is not some abstract principle; it’s about whether millions of LGBT Americans can finally live lives marked by dignity and freedom.” – Barack Obama

Civil rights blogger – Jamie Citron – has posted an exchange between Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council, and Barack Obama.

Chrisler wrote to Obama because of Senator McCain’s recent confusing comments on LGBT adoption. She asked about a “plan to recognize, respect, protect and celebrate all of the loving families you seek to represent…”

Here’s part of Obama’s response: “We know that the cost of the American dream must never come at the expense of the American family. For decades we’ve had politicians in Washington who talk about family values, but we haven’t had policies that value families.”

You can visit Barack Obama’s website, and read the entire exchange.

11/01/2007
Newest poll results: Majority of Americans support civil unions for lesbian and gay couples

ABC News is reporting that 55 percent of U.S. voters favor allowing same sex couples to form legally recognized civil unions – providing the same rights as heterosexual married couples in health insurance, inheritance and pension coverage.

This is an increase from 45 percent in an ABC/Washington Post poll in 2006. The previous high was 51 percent in 2004.

All leading Democratic presidential candidates support civil unions – and Rudy Giuliani is the only Republican candidate to side with the idea.

The most recent ABC/Post poll also found that more people under 30-years-old support civil unions when compared to seniors.

Support is highest in the East and West – and much lower in the Midwest and South. Caucasians are more likely than African Americans to support civil unions. And women are more favorable towards the idea (59 percent) than men (51 percent, and 47 percent among married men).

TiVo responds to our families’ voices. Focus on the Family must remove its branding from Father’s Day contest

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Family Equality Council contacted its members with an update on the relationship between TiVo and an active hate group. FEC learned of the unfortunate partnership on June 5 – and immediately asked its members to voice their concern directly to TiVo and sign a statement by Family Equality Council.

In an update to members on June 25, FEC Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler writes:

“To date, over 1,000 LGBT parents, family members and friends have signed onto our statement, demanding that TiVo dissolve its partnership with Focus on the Family and apologize for the offense. I have been in direct talks with TiVo executives for more than a week. I want to share with you the outcomes of our conversations and assure you that our voices are being HEARD!

“TiVo is deeply embarrassed. Until this past week, the company has had an “affiliate” relationship with Focus on the Family, which means that Focus on the Family had access to TiVo’s corporate logo so they could promote TiVo products, possibly in exchange for compensation from TiVo. In the minds of TiVo executives, allowing groups like Focus on the Family to use TiVo’s corporate logo implied only that these organizations supported TiVo and its products, not the other way around. Hearing our supporters’ voices, TiVo executives realized that associations are a two-way street.

“In direct response to our families’ actions, TiVo has stated that “we do not endorse the ideological views of any organization,” and from now on will no longer allow blanket access to their corporate identity. In other words, TiVo understands that aligning itself with a hate group is bad for business, bad for people and is simply wrong. TiVo has also directed Focus on the Family to remove its branding from the “Super Dads” contest and has taken down its own Focus on the Family affiliate web page.

“I’m happy to report that TiVo has maintained an open dialogue with us as we’ve worked to educate them on the value of all families and the need to represent all of its customers equally. And while this dialogue has been positive, productive and responsive, the question of whether TiVo will continue to have a business relationship with Focus on the Family or similar groups in the future is unclear. We have given TiVo ample opportunity to clarify their position on this issue and to date they have declined.”

6/9/2008
TiVo disappoints gay and lesbian customers by partnering with homophobic group for Father’s Day contest

Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Equality Council, sent an email to members alerting them to a major bungle by the popular entertainment service, TiVo.

In her email to members – Jennifer writes, “I just found out that TiVo, the home entertainment company servicing millions of families nationwide, is working with James Dobson’s Focus on the Family on a “SuperDad Essay Contest” for Father’s Day. As you can imagine, Focus on the Family is only looking for one type of “super” dads and they certainly are not part of our community. That a national company many of our families send checks to each month would sponsor a Father’s Day contest with Focus on the Family is horrendous. I need you – all of you – to help us respond.

“I won’t often ask you to visit Focus on the Family’s website, but today I am. The Family Equality Council is organizing a response to this discriminatory contest, asking you to nominate yourself or the GBTQ dads in your life. To do so, you have to visit the website, sign up for their parenting forums (message boards), and submit your nomination (100 words or less) through the boards. I encourage two-dad families to submit joint stories, highlighting the greatness of both dads in one entry!”

Chrysler also contacted TiVo to express concern that the company is sponsoring a competition run by the destructive homophobes.

In her message to the company – Jennifer says, “Aligning yourselves with Focus on the Family for the “I Know a SuperDad Essay Contest” sends the message that you support anti-LGBT politics and the hate speech Focus on the Family regularly spreads.

“It furthermore says to the millions of LGBT parents, their family members and friends in this country that you do not think gay dads can be “Super Dads,” an assertion we know from the very real experiences of our lives to be completely untrue.”

Over 600 parents and allies have asked TiVo Inc. to end its partnership with Focus on the Family. Add your voice to the chorus by signing this online petition.

Family Pride Opens Boston Office

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Family Pride is expanding its base of operations to Massachusetts.

The group will open a new office in Boston July 2, 2007 and its national policy work will continue in its D.C. office.

The program and development staff will be divided between the two locations, and Family Pride’s leader Jennifer Chrisler will be based in Boston, but travel between offices. The Boston office will focus on local initiatives, involving parenting groups and trainings for parents, social workers, schools and families. The D.C. office will continue the national work the organization does with regard to families and parental recognition legislation.

Slovenian Television Explores Gay Parenting

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Jennifer Chrisler, director of Family Pride, is featured in this 4-minute news story from Slovenia. Those who don’t speak Slovenian will not understand the reporter, but Chrisler speaks plain English when she explains the limitations gay parents face. The first woman in the clip is Mary Cheney explaining her mother’s horror reaction when her daughter came out.