Category Archive

gay family

Does choosing an LGBTQ+ label mean you're THAT forever?

Does choosing an LGBTQ+ label mean you’re THAT forever?

Some people have asked me: if I identify with a term today does that mean you always have to identify that way? The answer to that question can be complicated and contentious. Here’s my take: HELL FREAKING NO!

My heartfelt advice: Don’t worry so much about labels. Labels are great, but, in some ways, they’re also for cans.

So much rainbow outfits & accessories for LGBT Pride Month

So much rainbow pride gear for LGBT Pride Month (that you can Amazon Prime today!)

If you’re in the market for some new LGBT Pride Month gear, outfits, and accessories, ’tis the season. It’s June and we’re pulling out our rainbow wear! Before you say anything, consider sending your money to good places by grabbing merch from organizations like The Trevor Project, ACLU, or tossing an equal amount to your favorite cause.

But if you’re in need of some rainbow Pride right NOW (and want to Amazon Prime it to your house), we’ve got some to check out…

The future of marriage is SO GAY: Eavesdropping on a human sexuality professor, Part 3

When I was in New York last month, I sat down for a chat with a friend of a friend who’s a professor of Human Sexuality. Hunter Kincaid is an visiting lecturer at Hunter College and an adjunct professor at Pratt University, and we met up to muse over about how anal sex is like homeschooling, the […]

My gay BFF wants a baby and I’m pregnant but don’t want to keep it: how do I broach the topic of adoption with him?

We had our son five months ago and have been using condoms as birth control since he was born. Much to my horror, I find myself pregnant again. My partner and I have discussed our options, and have decided we don’t want to terminate the pregnancy — but we also know that we don’t want to raise two children this close together. One of my best and oldest friends has been talking about having a baby, and he and his husband are having a hard time adopting. We’ve joked about one of our friends carrying a child for them, but didn’t think it would actually happen… until I became pregnant.

Legal questions for families with sperm donors

The background of the case is so similar to the way many of my lesbian couples have chosen to grow their families. Partners Jennifer Schreiner and Angela Bauer wanted to have a baby together, but chose not to use a sperm bank. Instead, they opted to find their donor, William Marotta, on Craigslist. The mothers ended their relationship and Angela, the gestational mother, needed to apply for state welfare benefits. The parents in this case all believed they had made a valid written agreement before their daughter was born, stating that William would have no parental rights or responsibilities. The mothers want no child support, and are testifying in his defense.

Our family: two gay dads raising a foster son

This is a tale about the lives of two men and their (highly opinionated) son. I do think it’s worth telling, but it’s a simple one about our little family. I hope that by telling this side to our story, more people will become motivated to become foster carers as well.

A family photo session served with lots of yellow and a hand-drawn lighthouse

Jonas Seaman is a longtime friend of the Empire — he took photos at the reception we had in October 2011 and promptly became everyone’s best friend. I’ve been blogstalking him, patiently waiting for the day that he took the dive into family photography and friends: that day has come. If you live anywhere near Seattle, you’re going to be hauling yourselves up to his door and asking to have your photos taken after seeing these snaps!

JCPenney’s Father’s Day ad is rocking my world

All of a sudden I’m feeling like I need to mosey down to my local mall and peruse JC Penney for all that JC Penney offers — and you can thank their latest Father’s Day campaign for that.