A new study of lesbigay parents reported in The New York Times July 17 says the idea that these parents have no effect is a mistake. While emphasizing that having gay or lesbian parents does not harm children, the study suggests that daughters and sons of lesbigays were “less likely to have stereotyped notions of masculine and feminine behavior and more likely to aspire to occupations that crossed traditional gender lines.”

One controversy involved in the study is in the fact that more of such children than those raised by heterosexuals have considered a same-sex relationship.

However these young adults raised by lesbigays were “no more likely than other children to identify themselves as gay or lesbian.”

“It doesn’t make sense to claim that there are no differences based on the research that’s been done so far,” said Dr. Judith Stacey, a professor of sociology and gender studies at the University of Southern California and the lead author of the paper, which appeared in The American Sociological Review. Dr. Stacey and a colleague, Dr. Timothy J. Biblarz, also of U.S.C., reviewed 21 studies of the children of gay or lesbian parents published from 1981 through 1998.

“Some of the distinctions noted by researchers, Dr. Stacey said, had to do with attitudes toward sexuality and sexual behavior,” The Times reported. “Others involved how flexibly children interpreted gender roles: several studies, for example, found that the sons and daughters of lesbian mothers were less likely to have stereotyped notions of masculine and feminine behavior, and more likely to aspire to occupations that crossed traditional gender lines. Still other studies, Dr. Stacey and Dr. Biblarz found, charted differences in how children raised by gay or lesbian parents expressed themselves verbally, how close they were to their biological mothers’ partners, and how equally their parents divided parenting duties and household chores. And while many researchers found that the children of homosexual parents often faced teasing and harassment from their peers, the sociologists wrote, the studies also showed that such children ‘seem to exhibit impressive psychological strength.'”

Rhode Island Adopts Transgender-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Law

Rhode Island became the second state in the nation…following Minnesota in 1993…to adopt a non-discrimination law that clearly prohibits discrimination against transgender people in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations. The law, passed July 17, amends all of the state’s non-discrimination laws to ensure that transgender people who face discrimination may seek redress in the form of injunctive relief and damages.

Kate Monteiro, the president of the Rhode Island Alliance for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, said, “The passage of this long overdue law is a crucial step in the struggle to make clear that discrimination based on gender difference and stereotypes is wrong. We’re proud of the Rhode Island legislature’s continuing commitment to assure all Rhode Islanders are afforded basic human rights and treated with dignity and respect.”

Atlanta Lesbian Couple ‘Related’ through Vermont Civil Union, ACLU says

A woman being denied visitation with her own children because she lives with her same-sex partner should be allowed to see her kids because she and her partner are “related” by a Vermont civil union, the American Civil Liberties Union said in court papers.

A state court ruled last year that Susan Freer was violating a visitation agreement that said she couldn’t see her kids while she was living with an adult to whom she wasn’t either married or “related within the second degree.” Freer, who shares a home with her partner, is appealing that decision.

“Susan hasn’t seen her 9-year-old or her 12-year-old twins in a year, even though she’s in compliance with the original court-ordered visitation agreement,” said Debbie Seagraves, Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia.

The civil union the couple received in Vermont July 4, 2000, makes them “related within the second degree” under Georgia law, which recognizes a range of non-blood, non-marital relationships…including those established outside the state…the ACLU said.

Mom: Bias played role in son’s murder

The Denver Post reports that the mother of a slain 16-year-old Navajo boy broke her public silence last week to say that she believed her son’s slaying was a hate crime because of his gender identity.

“Pauline Mitchell also contradicted Cortez police statements that his family did not report Fred C. Martinez Jr. missing until his bludgeoned and badly decomposed body was found in a canyon June 21, five days after he failed to return home from a carnival and party. Investigators have said that Martinez may have died from the head injury and exposure after lying injured but alive on the rocky ledge for some time before his body was discovered,” the paper said.

“I reported Fred missing on June 18,” Mitchell said in a statement. “Two days later, I called the police again, and on June 23 I read about a body being found near our home. I phoned the police again, but they told me the body had not been identified.”

“I am speaking out now because I am angry,” Mitchell said. “I am angry that other people are lying about who my son was, including (18-year-old homicide suspect) Shaun Murphy and his family.” Murphy, now in custody in Cortez, allegedly bragged to others that he had “beat up a fag.”

Glenbrook teacher comes out about gender change

Officials at Glenbrook North High School, in a suburb located north of Chicago, have sent a letter to parents informing them that a tenured science teacher is undergoing a “formal process of gender reassignment” and will return to classes this fall as a male, the Chicago Tribune reported July 17.

School officials wrote the letter with the consent of teacher Dayne Travis in an effort to smooth the transition. The teacher has been at the school for seven years and will return to the Northbrook campus using the name Dane Fox, according to the July 6 letter.

BRIEFLY …

Supporting the efforts of Equality Florida, the Human Rights Campaign urged Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to change the laws governing public pensions so that same-sex partners can inherit benefits. HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch sent a letter to Bush, noting that “these inequities have been starkly highlighted by the plight of Tampa Detective Mickie Mashburn, whose life partner, Officer Lois Marrero, was killed in the line of duty July 6.” Despite her 10-year relationship with Marrero, Mashburn has been ruled ineligible to collect her partner’s pension.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe announced the addition of three openly gay individuals to their staff and the promotion of openly gay staff member Mark Spengler to Base Vote Director. Campbell Spencer has been named National Gay and Lesbian Base Vote Director, Clay Doherty is the new Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council (GLLC) of the DNC and Christine Kenngott is the new Deputy Director of Marketing.

A majority of Washington Blade employees voted last week against union representation, rejecting the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild’s (Local 32035) request to be their collective bargaining unit, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election.