Beth Teper
Executive Director
People with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) parents have five big reasons to celebrate the kick-off to 2011. While full family equality can not come fast enough, the new year provide a perfect moment for LGBTQ families joyously reflect on the fact that we are indeed securing the rights, recognition and respect every family deserves.
5. Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT)
Until now, children whose LGBTQ parent serves in the military faced the isolating challenge of having to keep a secret or else risk their familiy’s livelihood, access to housing, and survivor benefits. The elimination of discriminatory employment policies like DADT at the federal level will provide give hope to the LGBTQ community to win full equality.
4. Medical Leave and Hospital Visitation for LGBTQ Families
The Obama Administration expanded the Medical Leave Act to ensure that all families can take medical leave from their jobs if their partner or child is in need regardless of biological relation. The administration also instructed all hospitals receiving federal money to allow patients to decide who can visit them, opening up visitation rights to all families.
3. Florida Adoption Ban Struck Down
The 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled that Florida’s ban on LGBTQ adoption was unconstitutional. For 33 years Florida was the only state specifically banning gay people from adopting children in need of homes. For many foster youth with LGBTQ guardians this will provide greater recognition and legal protection to their families.
2. Nation Decries Anti-gay Bullying
Children of LGBTQ parents often face discrimination and bullying based on their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, or their parents’. After a horrific, highly publicized string of suicides due to anti-gay bullying millions of allies came out of the closet to support people who experience this kind of harassment. Many celebrities and politicians publicly took a stand and committed themselves to make it better.
1. Increased Visibility
People with LGBTQ parents were hard to miss this year. There were shows like Modern Family and GLEE; films like The Kids Are All Right; and celebrities like Ricky Martin who came out as a gay father. This year COLAGE: People with a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Parent released a groundbreaking new resource for people born through donor insemination, collaborated with author Tina Fakhrid-Deen to release Let’s Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents, and released the film Family Time chronicling 20 years of LGBTQ family history.