Straight Parent, Gay Kid
“Don’t Say or Write Gay”
It seems that the achievements of the Stonewall Rebellion in June 1969 and the passage of the same-sex marriage in June 2015 did more for the advancements of the LGBTQ+ population than during the period from June 2022 through April 2023 when the Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a media monitoring organization, counted 350 anti-L.G.B.T.Q incidents in cities in…
Shh! It’s GLSEN’s Annual Day of Silence
Did you know that: 82% of LGBTQ + students experienced 1st hand harassment or bullying in their school. 71% of students reported that their classrooms did NOT include any LGBTQ+topics. More than 30% of LGBTQ + students reported missing school because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable. Over half of all LGBTQ+ students of color experienced…
Audre Lorde: Black lesbian feminist poet activist. (1934-1992). Women’s History Month
In my last blog, I wrote about Jeanne Manford, a gay rights activist, straight mother and school teacher in New York. It’s important that you educate your LGBT children so they know that the advancement of gay rights in this country was paved by those who battled for those rights. During this Women’s History Month,…
One Who Led The Fight For Gay Rights: Jeanne Manford
March is Women’s History Month. Gay children should know who paved the way for them when homosexuality wasn’t accepted in the 1970’s. One hero worth talking about was a school teacher named Jeanne Sobelson Manford (December 4-1920-January 8, 2013). A graduate of Queens College in 1964, Jeanne taught at PS 32 until 1990. However, it…
Where is the Civility in Politics?
When the President of the United States is addressing the joint session of Congress during his State of the Union message, you listen politely. Whether you agree with him about his plans for the future of our country “to finish the job” (perhaps this will be his campaign slogan when he runs again?), he deserves…
“The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of 2022
The Ugly A record number -nearly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills were filed in 2022. These bills were to limit the rights of LGBTQ Americans this past year. Half of them specifically targeted transgender people. Only 41 bills were filed in 2018, but in 2021, 191 bills were proposed, according to nbc.com. Mental health of LGBTQ youths…
“You’ve Come A Long Way Baby,” but Don’t Rest on Your Laurels!
On Thursday, with a 258 to 169 vote, the House lawmakers approved the Respect for Marriage Act. Thirty-nine Republicans backed the legislation with all Democrats present. The bipartisan vote mirrored the findings of the May Gallup poll that 71% of Americans say they support legal same-sex marriage, up from 27% in 1996. Once signed into…
Supreme Court of the United States ends marriage discrimination - Obergefell vs Hodges
Freedom of Religion vs. LGBT Rights
Remember the baker Jack Phillips in Colorado? He denied making a wedding cake for a gay couple because he didn’t believe in same-sex weddings. His insistence made headlines over ten years ago. In 2018, the penalty was thrown out of the court and never resolved. A similar case was argued by the Supreme Court this…
November is Trans Awareness Month
It’s important to be aware of the trans population every month, not just November. In the United States, there are laws in certain states such as Texas, that you can go to prison for helping a trans minor obtain surgery, puberty blockers. Texas is not the only state to outlaw care for the young who…
LGBTQIA: What Does the A Stand For? No, It’s Not Ally!
Have you heard about ACE this week starting October 23rd when GLSEN raised awareness about the term? Read the blog and find out its true definition. The correct answer is Asexual. In our sexually-charged society and social media, it is possible to be asexual. In fact, 1% or nearly three million people refer to themselves…