All tagged 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.
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.
While the United States remains one of the few countries where gestational surrogacy is legal, and widely practiced, it continues to be a source of heated debate. Often missing from the conversation, however, are perspectives of surrogates themselves — and the varied, sometimes deeply personal, reasons that compel them to become surrogates. Read the article here.
The pandemic has created new challenges in the foster care system and exacerbated old ones — creating delays in placements and adoptions and forcing some older youth to exit the system amid a public health and economic crisis. The response, moreover, hasn’t been uniform across the country, or nearly fast enough, say child welfare advocates. Read the article here.
This article is part of “The Price of Modern Parenting” series for the New York Times.
Each adoption process shares the same ultimate purpose: to unite children who need families with those that want children. Yet, despite this common goal, the price tag of adoption in the United States varies widely.
It’s never been easier for L.G.B.T.Q. people to become parents. We can now adopt and serve as foster parents in every state in the country. Thanks to advancements in assisted reproductive technology, otherwise known as ART, and innovative co-parenting and known-donor arrangements, we’re also having biological children in greater numbers. Despite this progress, a complex network of state laws, regulations and restrictions affect many of our most common paths to parenthood, meaning would-be L.G.B.T.Q. parents can face a far more complicated legal landscape than our straight counterparts. Read the article here.
The process of adopting can be a long, complicated and emotional ride, with far more legal and financial roadblocks than many people assume. But, as most adoptive parents will tell you, it’s also a deeply fulfilling journey. Read the article here.
