On Being a Gay Parent, Seven Years Later

I wrote the book On Being a Gay Parent seven years ago (or that's when it was published). This book was made possible by my kids Adrianne Webb-Mitchell and Parker. Published in 2007, still learning from it today. I wrote in the book that being a gay parent was "like improvisational performance art" because we are playing off of no master narrative or script. Unlike non-LGBTQ parents, there are plenty of stories and narratives to play off of as you parent. The same is not true for us LGBTQ parents.  I still think the same is true today as I grow older: with the paucity of stories of being an LGBTQ parent, we are still making this stuff up as we grow up with our children and now grandchildren.  We fly by the seat of our pants and are improvising each and every day.  Sometimes it works, other days, it bombs. But we smile, laugh, and move on. Someday I may write about being a grandpa who is gay. Oy!

Pax!
B

Hallmark Loves Us Gay Dads!

I read on both towleroad and queerty that Hallmark cards loves us gay dads!  This is a hoot and a half.  I remember when coming out to the kids, and there were no cards for gay dads, let alone lesbian moms, etc. My kids took the creative tact and made their own cards, which was just super. But for the industry that knows how to read the cultural tea leaves, this is huge.

Welcome, Hallmark, to life!

Here's a link: http://www.queerty.com/hallmark-releases-first-ever-gay-fathers-day-card-20140612

Mazel!

Brett

Article from Chapel Hill News on LGBTQI Employees Getting Equal Access to non-LGBTQI benefits at CHCYMCA and YOTA

Hot off the press...email-wise.

Here's the link to the article/guest column I wrote on the CHCYMCA and YOTA offering LGBTQI employees the same benefits they were offering non-LGBTQI employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield/NC: http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2014/06/09/3923841/brett-webb-mitchell-ymca-shows.html?sp=/99/586/885/905/
Enjoy!

Pax!

B

"Etty"

I saw a one woman performance of the play, "Etty" based on the life of Etty Hillusem, a Dutch Jew who was sent to the Nazi concentration camps in WWII.  It was directed by Austin Pendleton of movie/B'way fame, and Susan Steiner was the actress.  Broadway quality.

I was shaken by the play. A few weeks ago saw a play about Japanese internment camp in WWII. Normandy and celebrations the past few days came to mind.  Rwanda.  Cambodia.  Jim Crow laws.  Stonewall. LGBTQ rights.

During our fight against Amendment 1 in NC, a Baptist pastor thought there should be a fenced area in western NC to house all us LGBTQ people. The same impulse behind Naziism's fence is in all of us, on all issues.

Pax!
B

PCUSA Absent in Lawsuit Against NC

We PCUSA ministers are AWOL on the latest law suit filed by the UCC against NC, in which the UCC are suing the state based upon the fact that a UCC minister who weds a same sex couple in NC could be committing a misdemeanor for such a marriage. Lately, The Alliance of Baptists, Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, and Central Conference of American Rabbis joined their suit.

However, we Presbyterians did not.

This is because we are not allowed to officiate at such a wedding, as so stated within the Constitution/Book of Order.  Until there is a change in our constitution (which could come this summer) we cannot participate in such wedding or such a lawsuit.

Sigh...

Pax@

B

OR moves forward...still waiting on NC

Good news, Oregon!

Supreme Court Assoc. Justice Kennedy isnt' going to stay OR decision to start marrying people. You get to stay in the category of states that are civilized.

NC? We await word from the 4th Circuit Court in Richmond to see what is the status of our less than civilized amendment to our state constitution.

Forward together, not one step back!

Pax, B

Chapel Hill YMCA/CHCYMCA and YMCA of the Triangle (YOTA) Agree to Give LGBTQI Benefits!

It happened!  After five years of work with CHCYMCA and YOTA, LGBTQI full time employees and their families will be eligible for the same benefits through Blue Cross Blue Shield NC as non LGBTQI families.  This is huge!  It was a cliff hanger...almost didn't happen.

For five years I worked at this plan, working with numerous groups, people, excitement and disappointment.  This was a last minute decision. It almost didn't happen, except that there were a lot of people reading the signs and seeing what was coming down the pike.

Thanks to all for the support.

One small step forward, not one step back!

Pax!

B