Posts Tagged ‘family’

DO IT: WHISKER WONDERLAND

The William Way is hosting a pet adoption fair on Saturday

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 12/5/2012 at 9:50AM | 2 Comments

Ali is one of the dogs up for adoption at the William Way on Saturday (courtesy of Finding Shelter)

Add a loved one to your life – the four-legged kind – during Whisker Wonderland at the William Way on Dec. 8 (1 – 4 p.m.). Rescue organization Finding Shelter is working with the community center during this gay-friendly pet adoption fair in hopes of finding loving homes for pets.

Deb Francesco, one of the creators of the event (this is the third such adoption event she and her partner have sponsored at the center), says that there will be as many as a dozen dogs up for adoption.

“We will also have photos with Santa, gift items for your pet and an ‘Ask a Vet’ table,” she says, “as well as doggie and kitty gift baskets for auction. Of course, we will have animals from our partnering shelter, including dogs and cats in need of temporary fosters. Our goal is to find permanent homes for all our fosters.”

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WATCH: HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A glimpse into life on the streets as an LGBT youth

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 11/28/2012 at 11:30AM | No Comments

Rigo is a 20-year-old bisexual Latino man and Marine Corps veteran. But since he was just 14, he’s been living on the streets, often taking refuge on the subways by night. Being homeless became so difficult, he even considered committing suicide by drowning a few years ago.

Today, he’s telling his story as part of a video series – “Homeless for the Holidays” – created by the Ali Forney Center for LGBT Youth. “It is a terrible thing that so many LGBTQ youth are driven from their homes and forced into destitution in the streets,” says the series’ creator Carl Siciliano. “It is truly one of the most terrible expressions of homophobia in our time. And what they endure is made far worse by their not having access to shelter.” A new video of a homeless young person will be shared each week online between now and the New Year.

This is Rigo’s story:

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VOICE OF ELMO COULD FACE SEX CHARGES

Kevin Clash takes leave of absence after being accused of having a relationship with 16-year-old boy

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 11/12/2012 at 11:58AM | No Comments

Not everyone was surprised to find out that the man behind the voice of Elmo is gay, but when news broke that Kevin Clash may have had an affair with a 16-year-old boy, things started looking grim on the usually chipper Sesame Street.

Clash, who hails from Baltimore, has been playing the voice of Elmo for the past few years. But amid accusations that he had an affair with a 16-year-old about seven years ago (the accuser is now 23), Clash, 52, took a leave of absence from the long-running children’s show after admitting that he had a relationship with the young man after he became an adult, according to the Baltimore Sun.

TMZ broke the story after being contacted by the young man in June. And while no evidence has been produced to substantiate the affair (the two did exchange emails), both Sesame Street and PBS are investigating. “I had a relationship with [the accuser],” Clash confessed to TMZ. “It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not.”

That’s all fine and dandy, but if you’re working for one of the most well-known children’s television franchises in the world, maybe you should consider dating guys who are at least old enough to get into Woody’s.

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KIDS WITH LESBIAN MOMS ARE ALRIGHT

New study follows teens who are happy, healthy and academically succesful

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 11/1/2012 at 9:39AM | 2 Comments

Photo by Think Stock

Sorry, Mitt, but it turns out that teens with lesbian mothers are successful and happy with their lives, according to a new report from the U. S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study. Even though Romney has come out against same-sex parenting, he should probably consider that the 17-year-olds participating in this, the longest-running study of lesbian families, not only had stellar high school GPAs in the A and B range, but nearly all planned to attend four-year colleges.

These kids also had strong family bonds, and they were nearly unanimous in describing their mothers as “good role models.” They also make friends with plenty of straight peers – and most say they feel comfortable bringing friends home and being open about their mom’s sexual orientation.
“We have been following these families for 26 years,” says Dr. Nanette Gartrell at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law in California. “These kids were planned and their lesbian mothers were very engaged in parenting. At the end of high school, the teens tell us that they have excellent grades, feel connected to their families and friends, and admire their parents. As a psychiatrist, I can say that these are the types of childrearing outcomes that every parent hopes for.”
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ROMNEY: GAY FAMILIES ARE NOT RIGHT

Video footage has surfaced showing the GOP presidential contender blasting same-sex parents

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 10/30/2012 at 10:23AM | No Comments

Mitt Romney may be flip flopping all over the place when it comes to healthcare, foreign policy and the economy, but he’s stayed on point when it comes to LGBT issues – and just how much he opposes equality. Here’s what Mittens had to say about same-sex couples and families in 2008 – and why he’s worked against amending birth certificates for LGBT families and their kids in Massachusetts:

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THE KIDS REALLY ARE ALRIGHT

New study says gay moms and dads are just as good for kids as straight ones

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 10/23/2012 at 9:21AM | No Comments

Photo by Think Stock

A new UCLA study has confirmed something we’ve known all along – gay moms and dads are just as good for kids as straight parents. Psychologists studied high-risk children who were adopted from the foster care system in Los Angeles – and who were placed with both same-sex and straight parents.

“On average, children in both household types showed significant gains in cognitive development and maintained similar levels of behavior problems over time, despite gay and lesbian parents raising children with higher levels of biological and environmental risks prior to adoptive placement,” the researchers revealed in this month’s American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. “Results demonstrated that high-risk children show similar patterns of development over time in heterosexual and gay and lesbian adoptive households.”

On average, kids’ IQs also increased when placed in homes with parents. For children in the system who need homes – this study can have significant implications, especially when you consider that potentially two million gay and lesbian parents are interested in adopting, according to a study from a few years ago (that number could actually be higher as more states make it easier for this to happen). Currently, only 19 states allow gay people to adopt (this includes Washington D.C.).

The study’s co-author Letitia Anne Peplau says: “There is no scientific basis to discriminate against gay and lesbian parents.”

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DO IT: FAMILY MATTERS

A conference for LGBT parents

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 10/17/2012 at 9:13AM | 1 Comment

Philadelphia Family Pride is hosting its Third Annual Family Matters Conference this month (Oct. 20)

Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe will help parents create inclusive schools for LGBT students and families (courtesy of Arcadia University)

at Arcadia University (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The conference, which aims to reach adoptive parents, single parents, prospective parents, trans-parents, partnered/married parents and grandparents, features three themes this year: Welcoming Schools, Knowing Your Rights and Growing Your Family.

Many LGBT families enjoy a wonderful partnership with their children’s schools, where they feel welcomed, visible, affirmed and valued. But others are not so fortunate. Keynote speaker Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, an associate professor of education at Arcadia, will discuss how to approach and collaborate with your school to create an inclusive and safe place for LGBT families.

There are 13 workshops being held at the conference, including a panel of teenagers and adults from several local LGBT families who will discuss their experience in school. families to discuss their experiences in school.

Here are a few other highlights:

What Does Saying “I Do” Mean for You?: Relationship Recognition and the Legal Confusion over Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships: This workshop will address the legal issues surrounding gay marriage and civil unions with Rebecca Levin, an attorney with Jerner & Palmer.

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WEEKEND ROUNDUP

The ultimate LGBT guide

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 9/21/2012 at 8:58AM | No Comments

Friday, Sept. 21

Courtesy of Lynn Wilson

The AIDS Walk kicks off with a special presentation in Rittenhouse Square (11 a.m.) documenting the last 30 years of the disease. Read all about it here.

Lynn Wilson exhibits her collages at Gleaner’s Cafe Gallery (5:30 p.m.).

Yikes celebrates its LEED Platinum status during an unveiling ceremony (5:30 p.m.) at their headquarters on East Girard Ave. The owners of the web design firm are featured in the current fall issue of G Philly.

Pancakes 4 Supper benefits the Philly Trans March (6 p.m.) at Sam’s Morning Glory Diner.

Gender EDGE presents “an evening of bleeding ears” (7 p.m.) at the Turnerdome with bands Sex Gender, Hivebent, Heather Holepuncher and Ex by V.

The Voice contestants Tony Vincent and Juliet Simms perform at Parx Casino (8 p.m.).

The Shortbus Sisters go back to school (10 p.m.) at Tabu with drag performances by Satine Harlow, Navaya Shay, Cherry Pop, Misty Maven and Omyra Lynn.

September Stimulus celebrates with the Second Annual Back 2 School party (10 p.m.) at Shampoo. There’s even an under 21 lounge.

DJ Deejay spins BBG vs. KKR at Sisters (10 p.m.).

Saturday, Sept. 22

It’s Family Play Day at the William Way (10 a.m.) with wildlife experts from the Philadelphia Zoo. Join Philadelphia Family Pride for the fun, free and educational event for kids of all ages.

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WHAT WILL RUPERT EVERETT SAY NEXT?

The gay actor blasts gay parenting - again

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 9/17/2012 at 9:39AM | 1 Comment

First he said that coming out is about the worst thing an actor can do. Then he went under the knife, emerging almost unrecognizable after what can only be described as a botched plastic surgery. And now, Rupert Everett, the openly gay actor who starred in such notable flicks as “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “Shakespeare in Love,” has made some not-so-nice statements about gay parenting – again.

He told the Sunday Times Magazine that he “can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads.” The actor is currently playing Oscar Wilde (go figure) in the London production of “The Judas Kiss.”

The interview also talked to Everett’s mother, who doesn’t seem to be any more enlightened about same-sex moms and dads than her son. She revealed, “In the past, I have said that I wish Rupert was straight and, I probably still feel that… I’d like him to have a pretty wife. I’d like him to have children. He’s so good with children. He’d make a wonderful father… But I also think a child needs a mummy and a daddy. I’ve told him that and he takes it very well. He doesn’t get angry with me. He just smiles.”

None of this is really surprising, of course, since the actor has often been down on being gay. In the past, he called gay parenting “egocentric” and “vain.” This is interesting coming from a man who’s stretched his face so far it looks like a drum. Sad, too, since we loved him playing a gay best friend to Julia Roberts back in the day.

Here he is in better times:

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WATCH: THE NEW NORMAL

We got a sneak peek of the first episode of this anticipated gay-friendly TV show

Posted by Natalie Hope McDonald on 8/30/2012 at 9:00AM | No Comments

Glee‘s Ryan Murphy’s at it again. This fall season, he’s debuting a new show – The New Normal – about two gay men who are having a child with a surrogate mom. The show stars Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells, the Tony Award winner who starred in Book of Mormon on Broadway. Ellen Barkin also plays a hilarious grandmother with quite the silver tongue.

One Million Moms has already criticized the show for its friendly portrayal of gay dads. And an affiliate in Utah refuses to air the series, saying it would offend Mormon audiences.

The series debuts on Sept. 11.

Click here to watch the pilot before it airs on NBC.

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