Category: Adoption

U.S. Expands Birthright Citizenship of Babies Born Abroad to Same-Sex Couples

May 20, 2021

In a historic update to exisiting policy, the U.S. State Department made the decision to recognize U.S. citizenship of babies born abroad to same-sex married couples, regardless of whether an American parent is biologically related. More from HuffPost.   In a victory for LGBTQ rights, the State Department updated its policy to recognize the U.S. … More U.S. Expands Birthright Citizenship of Babies Born Abroad to Same-Sex Couples

VICTORY: South Carolina Lesbian Couple Case Moves Forward Challenging Foster Care Policy

May 8, 2020

VICTORY: South Carolina Lesbian Couple to Have Their Day in Court in Challenge to HHS and South Carolina Foster Care Policy. District court allows lawsuit to go forward challenging HHS waiver that permits a government-funded South Carolina foster care agency to reject applications from same-sex parents   A U.S. District Court today denied an effort by … More VICTORY: South Carolina Lesbian Couple Case Moves Forward Challenging Foster Care Policy

Navigating the new landscape of LGBTQ divorce for Lawyers and Therapists

June 27, 2019

A new book by Adam Romero, the Williams Institute’s Arnold D. Kassoy Scholar of Law and federal policy director, and Abbie Goldberg, a former Williams Institute visiting scholar and professor of psychology at Clark University, provides a comprehensive resource for navigating the new world of LGBTQ relationship dissolution. The right to marry means same-sex couples have gained … More Navigating the new landscape of LGBTQ divorce for Lawyers and Therapists

U.N Body to Declare Parts of Italian Reproductive Law contrary to International Law

March 29, 2019

LOYOLA’S INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER PERSUADES U.N. BODY TO DECLARE PARTS OF ITALIAN REPODUCTIVE LAW CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW LOS ANGELES – The International Human Rights Center (IHRC) at LMU’s Loyola Law School, Los Angeles has secured a favorable ruling from the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in a challenge to … More U.N Body to Declare Parts of Italian Reproductive Law contrary to International Law

A Reflective Mothers Day – Five Generations in My Maternal Line on Five Separate Continents Mothers

May 13, 2018

Standing with refugees, asylum seekers immigrants, and orphans because it is persecutory and tragic to separate families… This Mother’s day as we stand with refugee and asylum seeking mothers and the orphans who do not have mothers, I reflect on the tragedy of my own family and how the Trump Administration is working policy to … More A Reflective Mothers Day – Five Generations in My Maternal Line on Five Separate Continents Mothers

Oklahoma Governor Signs Dangerous Anti-LGBT Child Welfare Bill Into Law

May 11, 2018

Governor gives go-ahead to legalize discrimination WASHINGTON – Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin today signed SB 1140 into law, codifying discrimination against legally married same-sex couples and others looking to adopt, and imperiling the well-being of youth in the state’s child welfare system. The new law will permit taxpayer funded adoption agencies to turn away same-sex … More Oklahoma Governor Signs Dangerous Anti-LGBT Child Welfare Bill Into Law

Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

May 7, 2018

May is National Foster Care Month – Orientation scheduled to inform, dispel myths about foster care San Rafael, CA – Marin County has 85 children in out-of-home care, also known as foster care, and nearly 35 percent of them are placed in homes outside of Marin. The Marin County Recruitment Collaborative seeks more homes in Marin so … More Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

May 3, 2018

Advocates call on Gov. Mary Fallin to veto discriminatory bill WASHINGTON – At the eleventh hour, lawmakers in Oklahoma approved a bill that would allow adoption agencies receiving taxpayer funding to discriminate against legally married same-sex couples and LGBTQ youth, among others. The bill, SB 1140, was approved by both the House and Senate chambers … More Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

Why this Progressive Liberal Endorses and Will Vote for Senator Dianne Feinstein

February 26, 2018

California Democrats rebuked Sen. Dianne Feinstein at their annual convention this weekend, denying her the party’s endorsement in this year’s Senate race, and giving a majority of their votes to her apparently more liberal primary challenger, Kevin de León. While many may slot Feinstein in the ‘moderate’ zone, I have seen her, through the years, as … More Why this Progressive Liberal Endorses and Will Vote for Senator Dianne Feinstein

Group Seeks Justice for Those Assaulted During Vietnam War

November 6, 2017

International Organization  Hosts Event In U.S. On Eve Of Trump Visit To Vietnam New Orleans, La. ( Nov. 6, 2017) — The international group Justice for Lai Dai Han is hosting a U.S.-based event – on the eve of President Trump’s visit to Vietnam to speak at the APEC Summit – to raise awareness of … More Group Seeks Justice for Those Assaulted During Vietnam War

US Jewish Leaders Plea to Israel for Same-Sex Adoption Rights

July 25, 2017

In response to the growing controversy in Israel regarding adoption by same-sex couples, A Wider Bridge organized a public letter which was published today. The letter, signed by nearly 200 Jewish Community Leaders from across America, calls on the Israeli Ministries of Justice and Social Affairs to treat same-sex couples equally in the adoption process. Lesbian, … More US Jewish Leaders Plea to Israel for Same-Sex Adoption Rights

Shame on Texas Governor Pushing Anti-LGBT Agenda

June 6, 2017

Texas Governor Calls Special Legislative Session to Advance Anti-LGBT Agenda – Abbott’s decision is a capitulation to the Lone Star State’s rabidly anti-LGBT lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick WASHINGTON – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced today that he is calling a special legislative session to tackle an inordinate agenda — including HB 2899, discriminatory legislation that bans municipalities … More Shame on Texas Governor Pushing Anti-LGBT Agenda

My Mom is a Lesbian – A Foster Adopt Child’s Letter to Donald Trump

May 4, 2017

 “My Mom is a lesbian…” We are told that Donald Trump is scheduled to sign an Executive Order today:  “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom”. The name is a hideous mask – a guise – a ruse.  While it seems to invoke religious freedom, in truth it is an excuse to trample on the constitutional … More My Mom is a Lesbian – A Foster Adopt Child’s Letter to Donald Trump

Trump Executive Order With Religious Exemptions Would Allow Discrimination Against LGBT People

May 2, 2017

Order Could Impact Hundreds of Thousands of LGBT People, Including Tens of Thousands of LGBT Youth in Foster Care and Same-Sex Couples Seeking to Foster or Adopt Los Angeles – A federal executive order carving out broad religious exemptions to existing laws and policies could provide sweeping protections for employers, service providers, and others that … More Trump Executive Order With Religious Exemptions Would Allow Discrimination Against LGBT People

Take Action to Stop Alabama Bill that will hurt LGBT Families

March 15, 2017

The deceptively-named “Alabama Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act” will be debated in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday, March 17, and we need your help to stop it. This bill would allow allow state-licensed, religiously-affiliated foster and adoption placing agencies to deny placements with individuals and families with whom they have a religious dispute … More Take Action to Stop Alabama Bill that will hurt LGBT Families

The Anti LGBT Order Being Considered by Trump

February 2, 2017

This executive Order is apparently under consideration by  the Trump administration and it would allow discrimination against LGBT people Order Could Impact Hundreds of Thousands of LGBT People, Including Tens of Thousands of LGBT Youth in Foster Care and Same-Sex Couples Seeking to Foster or Adopt President Trump is considering issuing an executive order that provides … More The Anti LGBT Order Being Considered by Trump

Federal Court Overturns Mississippi Adoption Ban

March 31, 2016

A Federal court has overturned the same-sex adoption ban in Mississippi, today. Judge Daniel P. Jordan III of the United States District Court, for The Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division ruled has ruled the ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples in Mississippi, under Mississippi Code section 93-17-3(5) which states simply: “Adoption by … More Federal Court Overturns Mississippi Adoption Ban

Israeli Gay Couple Discover Surrogate Baby Mistake

January 8, 2016

Wrong Baby From Surrogate Mother in Nepal Posted By Melanie Nathan, January 08, 2016. Several weeks after completing the surrogate birth process in Nepal, a gay Israeli couple learned that the baby girl they’d been told was theirs and had been caring for is not their daughter. The error was revealed by the routine tissue … More Israeli Gay Couple Discover Surrogate Baby Mistake

One Million Moms Anti Gay Tirade Against Campbell’s Soup And Foster Kids

November 12, 2015

TAKE ACTION BELOW – Thanks To Campbell’s Soup for Including Everyone! By Melanie Nathan, November 12, 2015. The anti-gay organization, One Million Moms, is extremely busy, as of late. They have been asserting their fundamentalist extreme right wing prowess by pretending to be ‘morality’ police. When Campbell’s  Soup used a a same-sex married couple with … More One Million Moms Anti Gay Tirade Against Campbell’s Soup And Foster Kids

Colombian Constitutional Court Rules Same-sex Couples can Adopt

November 6, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, November 06, 2015. In a victory for the country’s LGBT community, the Colombian Constitutional Court ruled on November 4, 2015, that same-sex couples in Colombia can adopt children. Previously couples could only adopt a child if it was the offspring of one of the partners, but after hours of debate a 6-2 … More Colombian Constitutional Court Rules Same-sex Couples can Adopt

Sen. Bob Casey Asks DOJ for Guidance on Annulment of Gay Partner Adoptions

November 2, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, November 02, 2015. Years ago many gay partner couples entered into adoptions thinking that the possibility of marriage would never be a reality in their lifetimes. Entering into an adoption guaranteed these couples certain legal protections like hospital visitations and inheritance rights. In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decisions in … More Sen. Bob Casey Asks DOJ for Guidance on Annulment of Gay Partner Adoptions

NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

September 29, 2014

New surveys suggest that as many as 9.5 million adults in the US are LGBT | An estimated 124,000 same-sex couples are married and raising more than 30,000 children LOS ANGELES — Two new studies released by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, review findings from four recent large, national, population-based surveys to … More NEW STUDIES OFFER ESTIMATES OF LGBT POPULATION AND MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES

Putin’s Immoral Choice | Orphanages vs. Loving Same-Sex Families

October 14, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, October 14, 2013. Russian lawmakers would rather see infants and children starve and suffer neglect, resulting in deformities and attachment disorders than provide these children with the opportunities for love and health.  A picture speaks a million words – how does one grasp what could have been; and why would Russian lawmakers,  … More Putin’s Immoral Choice | Orphanages vs. Loving Same-Sex Families

Russian Anti-Gay Parliamentarian Wants to Talk to United States Congress About Syria

September 8, 2013

But wait – watch out – what if we get our grubby queer hands on her? By Melanie Nathan, September 08, 2013 Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko is the highest-ranking female politician in Russia, the former governor of Saint Petersburg and the current Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. She also hates gays. Valentina … More Russian Anti-Gay Parliamentarian Wants to Talk to United States Congress About Syria

New Russian Bill Seeks to Take Biological Children Away From Gays and Lesbians

September 6, 2013

Lesbian Activist Speaks about Russia’s Continued Defiance with worsening New Laws Against Gays and asylum being the only answer By Melanie Nathan, September 06, 2013. A Russian lawmaker has proposed a bill that would deny gay parents custody over their children. The draft bill, published on parliament’s website on Thursday, would make the “fact of … More New Russian Bill Seeks to Take Biological Children Away From Gays and Lesbians

ACLU challenging NC ban on same-sex marriages

July 9, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, July 09, 2013. Today the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) announced plans to challenge North Carolina’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples by amending a federal lawsuit filed against the state last year on behalf of six same-sex couples and their children … More ACLU challenging NC ban on same-sex marriages

Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage

June 18, 2013

The Bill is based on myth as expounded by Russian Deputy Speaker, who said:  “If a child ends up with a homosexual couple, it could cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality.” By Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2013. As same-sex marriage is increasing in acceptance around the world, … More Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage

On Fathers Day NBJC honors the commitment of Black gay, bisexual and trans men

June 16, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, June 16, 2013. Statement by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC): Black gay, bisexual and trans fathers, uncles and brothers play many important roles in the Black community. As caregivers, role models, providers, teachers, friends and leaders, Black gay, bisexual and trans men are invaluable threads in the fabric of the … More On Fathers Day NBJC honors the commitment of Black gay, bisexual and trans men

Homeless Youth | “Street Child: A Memoir”

May 19, 2013

Award Winning Author Justin Reed Early releases new edition of acclaimed “Street Child: A Memoir”  Continuing National Tour Providing Books at No Cost to Homeless and At-Risk Youth  (& Social Workers) Posted by Cathy Kristofferson , May 19, 2013. Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2013….This week the acclaimed book “Street Child: A Memoir” was re-released … More Homeless Youth | “Street Child: A Memoir”