FAMILY PRIDE IN THE MEDIA
Detroit News (Scripps Howard News Service)
Gay parents' Easter egg roll plans draw criticism
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060312/POLITICS/603120400/1022
Advocate.com
Catholic Church shutters adoption agency to spite gays
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid27848.asp
PlanetOut/Gay.com
Mass.bishops try to halt gay adoptions
http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2006/03/02/4
In These Times
An Anti-Gay Easter
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2514/
Freedom to Marry
LGBT Parents: Building Blocks of the Marriage Movement
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/node.asp?id=3485
UPDATE ON LEGISLATION IMPACTING OUR FAMILIES
Arizona
A discriminatory and harmful piece of legislation that seeks to restrict the rights of single people to adopt has passed the Arizona House of Representatives and has moved on to the Senate.Under this measure, married couples would be given priority in adoption proceedings in all but very narrow circumstances. An overwhelming number of Arizona children are waiting for loving and stable homes, and HB 2696 would make it even harder for them. In addition, this bill would take discretion away from trained adoption professionals and would add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the already complicated adoption process.
This bill in no way serves the best interest of Arizona's children. Family Pride and the Arizona Human Rights Fund (AHRF) ask that you stay tuned for important updates as we wait for this bill to be assigned to committee.
For more information on HB 2696, go here.
Family Pride will continue to work in close partnership with the Arizona Human Rights Fund to educate legislators and stop this anti-LGBT, anti-family measure. If you do not receive regular e-newsletters from Family Pride, please sign up today at http://www.familypride.org so we can keep you informed about legislation of impact to your family, and to the children of Arizona.
Ohio
A discriminatory and harmful piece of legislation has been filed in the Ohio House of Representatives that would:
This bill in no way serves the best interest of Ohio Children. If this bill is not passed during this legislative session, it is possible that it could be on the ballot this November! We are asking you to help spread the word about this harmful measure, and to honestly talk to as many people as you can about the damaging impacts of this type of legislation. We ask you today to begin, or continue, conversations about your family, and children who need loving, stable and permanent families. You can join Family Pride’s “Real Families, Real Facts” campaign and become an OUTSpoken Family today!
Family Pride will continue to work in close partnership with Equality Ohio to educate legislators and stop this anti-LGBT, anti-family measure. If you do not receive regular e-newsletters from Family Pride, please sign up today at http://www.familypride.org so we can keep you informed about legislation of impact to your family, and to the children of Ohio.
A harmful piece of legislation has been passed in the Utah State Legislature and is waiting to be signed by the governor!
Thank you to those who have written and called the governor asking him to veto HB148 Parent and Child Amendments. Family Pride and Equality Utah ask you to keep up the effort as the governor has not yet signed this bill into law! We're receiving reports that those who support the bill are contacting the governor. Let's not be outnumbered on this issue!
We ask that families not only continue to call and e-mail the governor, but we also ask that you write letters to the editor to your local papers!
If House Bill 148 Parent and Child Amendments are enacted, a court will no longer be permitted to grant caretaking rights to non-biological parents. Also, children being raised by non-biological parents may lose their rights to continued financial and emotional support. This could happen if the biological parent dies or if the child’s parents break-up and the biological parent chooses to cut off the other parent. Some lawmakers worry that the visitation bill could possibly impact grandparents and/or step-parents as well.
If you do not receive regular e-newsletters from Family Pride, please sign up today at http://www.familypride.org so we can keep you informed about legislation of impact to your family, and to the children of Utah.
FAMILY PRIDE DENOUNCES ADOPTION DECISION
“Today's decision by Boston's Catholic Charities to cease their adoption assistance program that once secured safe, caring, and loving homes for hundreds of children is a tragedy for the children they served. Rather than expanding the opportunities for children in need by allowing adoption by gay and lesbian couples whom credible research in the last twenty-five years has proved fully capable of raising well adjusted children, they have opted instead to deny any children access to their long standing tradition of excellent work in this field. The ramifications of this decision will surely be felt in Massachusetts and across the nation.” – Jennifer Chrisler, executive director, Family Pride
ONE MOM, TWO FEET, 500 MILES – A WALK FOR TOGETHERNESS
From April 8 through June 3, 2006, Jennifer Schumaker, a writer, lesbian, single mother of four, and "soccer mom" will be walking from San Diego to San Francisco to spread the "togetherness ribbon." The ribbon was designed as a visible, accessible and shared symbol by which allies, friends and family of LGBT people may show their support. Family Pride is one of many organizations that have endorsed this effort. More information is available at www.walkfortogetherness.org.
FAMILY PRIDE’S DIRECTOR TO GIVE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THIRD ANNUAL ‘VALUING OUR FAMILIES’ CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA
Family Pride is proud to again partner with SunServe, Fort Lauderdale’s gay and lesbian social services agency, to present the third annual “Valuing Our Families” conference on Sat., April 1, 2006. This gathering of families and allies will take place at the Metropolitan Community Church’s Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This year’s conference will focus on changing the social and political climate for LGBT families. Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Pride, will provide the keynote address. The day will close with a celebration featuring two very special honorees, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and author Armistead Maupin, and will include special guest and previous “Valuing Our Families” honoree Sharon Gless (“Queer as Folk”). Local honorees will include Karen Doering of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Michael G. of South Florida Family Pride.
On Sun., April 2, there will be a Family Outing from 11am-2pm at Westlake Park in Hollywood, Florida. This event – presented by South Florida Family Pride -- will include a family picnic, and outdoor games and activities. For more information on the conference or to register, go to www.sunserve.org or call (954) 764-5150.
SIGN UP TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL
There are less than six weeks before the White House Easter Egg Roll! If you want to help America see the love of your family, if you want to help America become a more equitable place, if you want your children to have all the same legal protections that children of heterosexual couples do, sign up today to participate in this important event. Please join us on April 17 and make a difference in the lives of LGBT families and our country. For more information or to sign up to participate, go to http://www.familypride.org/eggroll today.
RESEARCH REQUESTS
Family Pride does not necessarily endorse or encourage participation, and assumes no responsibility for these independent projects. This is an informational service only.
Doctoral Student is Seeking Children, Ages 8-16, Raised by LGBT Parents
A study is being conducted on the developmental outcomes and school experiences of children raised by LGBT parent(s). This research is being conducted by Alicia Crowl, a doctoral student in school psychology at Michigan State University. If you have a son or daughter between the ages of 8 and 16, Alicia would appreciate it if you would contact her. Her study consists of a 20-30 minute multiple choice questionnaire about school experiences and support systems. All information will be kept confidential and she hopes to publish the findings in an academic journal. All children who participate will be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate. If you and your child are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Alicia at (517) 333-0867 or crowlali@msu.edu.