My first opinion piece in @usatoday on paid parental leave. It’s a national embarrassment that we continue to be one of a handful of countries in the world without such a program, but there’s one silver lining in having waited this long

David Dodge
LGBTQ, Parenting

It’s a national embarrassment that we continue to be one of a handful of countries in the world without such a program, but there’s one silver lining in having waited this long: we have the opportunity to do it right the first time around, and create a paid parental leave program inclusive of *all* parents. Such a policy would also make things right with the LGBTQ and adoption community—who are disproportionately denied paid time off.

Glass learns to track big cats in South Africa

Glass learns to track big cats in South Africa

David Dodge
Travel, Sustainability

My piece on Tswalu, South Africa’s largest private game reserve, fro Glass Magazine. Many incredible critters made appearances during my stay (Zazu from the Lion King even tried to break into my room at one point). But the real mission of the reserve only comes into focus after a visit to the Tswalu Founation, where guests can learn about the reserve’s efforts to protect the southern Kalahari against threats like climate change and poaching.

Regardless of what happens on Election Day this year, our current elected officials need to do the right thing and codify LGBTQ Marriage Equality into national law. And then Congress needs to turn its attention to expanding new rights, n

David Dodge
LGBTQ, Parenting

Regardless of what happens on Election Day this year, our current elected officials need to do the right thing and codify LGBTQ Marriage Equality into national law. And then Congress needs to turn its attention to expanding new rights, not just protect old ones. Enacting paid parental leave — something a majority of both parties actually agree on, and that will confer new rights and protections to LGBTQ families, not just enshrine old ones — may be one of the only areas to make that happen.

Traveling with Pride — Teachable Moments

Traveling with Pride — Teachable Moments

David Dodge
Travel, LGBTQ

British Airways asked me and a couple other LGBTQ travel writers to write about a "memorable experience" we've had while traveling as queer people. My piece was about the time a homophobe and I went to a bar together in Greece (sounds like the set up to a bad joke) and hilarity ensued.

The Fight for Parental Leave is a Fight for Queer Rights

The Fight for Parental Leave is a Fight for Queer Rights

David Dodge

A common barrier for LGBTQ parents, and one that isn't recognized often enough as a matter of importance to the queer community, is our country's lack of a comprehensive paid parental leave policy. The United States continues to be the only developed country in the world without a paid parental leave policy. But queer men, in particular, are disproportionately impacted. Even companies offering robust maternity leave policies exclude or provide far lesser benefits to the non-birthing partner.

Where to Experience the LGBTQ+ Scene in Amman, Jordan

Where to Experience the LGBTQ+ Scene in Amman, Jordan

David Dodge
LGBTQ, Travel

Excerpted from Sassy Planet: A Queer Guide to 40 Cities. Jordan doesn’t criminalize LGBTQ+ identities, and trans people can even have their gender marker modified there—but locals say that being openly queer nonetheless carries a huge social stigma in Amman and across the country. Still, homosexuality has been decriminalized in Jordan for consenting people over the age of 16 since 1951. While Amman has few queer spaces, the scene is nonetheless very present, a situation unlike in many neighboring countries, where it has been forced underground. Read the article here.

‘A Family Like Ours’: Portraits of Gay Fatherhood

‘A Family Like Ours’: Portraits of Gay Fatherhood

David Dodge
Parenting, Arts & Culture

A new book of photography by Burt Heynen features the intimate moments of queer dads in America. American culture has not been particularly starved of images of gay fatherhood, particularly in recent years. It no longer feels revelatory to see them on television, as it did when “Modern Family” premiered in 2009. Less common are images of gay fathers who aren’t Instagram ready — like two men combing their daughters’ hair. Read the article here.

Ways to Improve the World: Become a Deep Canvasser

Ways to Improve the World: Become a Deep Canvasser

David Dodge
Arts & Culture

Deep canvasses require volunteers to be vulnerable with strangers, which can be uncomfortable but effective. A 2016 study published in Science found that 10 percent of voters deep-canvassed on transgender rights shifted their views in a positive direction. “That may not sound like a lot,” said Dave Fleischer, director of the Leadership Lab, a group involved in the research. “But it’s better than zero, which is the result of almost everything else we’ve tried.” Read the article here.

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