Mike Huckabee: I Hate Everything In The Entire World To Do With Gay People

In so many words...

Iowa's Zach Wahls On Ellen DeGeneres

After his passionate speech defending his two moms to the Iowa legislature went viral, 18 year old Zach Wahls has become a media sensation. Today he appeared on Ellen.

(Tipped by JMG reader Iowa Mike)

The New Normal

Over on Parenting.com, a lesbian mom of twins relates her initial trepidation when another mother of twins sits down next to her at the airport.

"No, we're not sisters,” I say, as I have hundreds of times before (Emily and I do look somewhat similar). “We're partners.” My new friend brightens and says, “Oh, who carried?” Who carried?! After I tell her that it was me who carried, we swap birth stories. Her husband leans over to tell Emily that he gained 25 pounds worth of sympathy weight. “Did you have the same problem?” he asks. Clearly, the only person there with any judgments or preconceived notions was me. I shouldn't have been surprised. In the five years that Em and I have been married (no, it's not legal), and in the three and a half years since we had the boys, that's pretty much the way it's gone. We've received nothing but love, support, or, surprisingly, plain old indifference from friends, family, and strangers. That apathy says a lot about how much a part of the social fabric we have become. Truth be told, we're neither sensational nor worth remarking upon. We're just the New Normal.

My Uncle's Wedding

Just released is My Uncle's Wedding, a new book intended to explain same-sex marriage to kids ages 4-8 who may be invited to attend the ceremony.

"This children's book is the perfect gift for any child who loves a good story and especially children with gay people in their family," said Molly McKay, National Media Director for Marriage Equality USA. "The author approaches the subject of same-sex marriage with a child's sensitivity and sensibility, and the beautiful illustrations are sure to be enjoyed by kids and parents alike." The message in the book is one of love and equality, but it is handled well and without being preachy. The protagonist observes the proceedings with childlike innocence, simply accepting that his two uncles love each other and should celebrate that. It's no different from any other wedding. And at no point does the story feel heavy-handed.

My Uncle's Wedding is now on sale via Amazon and the above link. Get ready for the wingers to start screaming about "indoctrination."

Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni

(Source)

CNN On Gay Parenting In The South

Iowa Teen Zach Wahls And His Two Mom Appear On Lawrence O'Donnell

WATCH: Iowa Teen Zach Wahls Defends His Two Mothers To State Legislators

FLORIDA: House GOP Speaker Seeks To Enforce Gay Adoption Ban

Even though district courts have overturned Florida's ban on gay adoption, state House GOP Speaker Dean Cannon wants Gov. Rick Scott to enforce the ban still on the state books.

Cannon said the Legislature may reassert its position affirming the prohibition if that becomes necessary, but is awaiting word whether the Scott administration will continue to enforce the ban. “The tactical calculus is to make a change [in the law] would almost imply that you agree that there was some flaw identified by the Third DCA,” Cannon said of the Legislature’s options after the Third District Court of Appeal overturned the law last year. “Because that’s just in one district, it may make sense to wait and see if that Third DCA opinion is eventually brought up with another case and either overturned or affirmed by the Supreme Court,” he said. “Until we know how the governor and DCF secretary are going to apply it, it’s not a foregone conclusion that the Legislature should step in,” he said. “If we think we should, we’re certainly prepared and willing to do so.” Asked if the governor should enforce the law, Cannon replied, “Absolutely.”

Earlier this month Tea Party-backed Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott tipped his hand on gay adoption when he appointed an anti-gay adoption activist to head Florida's Department of Children and Families.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

More Gays Raise Kids In The South

According to a study of data released by the U.S. Census, there are more gay couples raising children in the southern states than in urban states more traditionally considered to be gay hot spots.

Child rearing among same-sex couples is more common in the South than in any other region of the country, according to Gary Gates, a demographer at the University of California, Los Angeles. Gay couples in Southern states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are more likely to be raising children than their counterparts on the West Coast, in New York and in New England. The pattern, identified by Mr. Gates, is also notable because the families in this region defy the stereotype of a mainstream gay America that is white, affluent, urban and living in the Northeast or on the West Coast.

One theory for the result is that southern blacks and Latinos may be more likely to have been in a heterosexual marriage with children prior to coming out.

FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott Appoints "Christians Only" Activist To Head State Agency On Adoptions

Florida Gov. Rick "Medicare Fraud" Scott has appointed Christian activist David Wilkins to head the state Department of Children and Families, which is in charge of adoptions. Wilkins is the former head of a Baptist adoption agency which states that only "professed Christians" are eligible for consideration as parents. Gay rights groups are concerned that Scott's move signals an intent to overturn the recent advances for gay families in Florida. The Miami Herald reports:

Some children's advocates find Wilkins' ties to fundamentalist religious groups unsettling, particularly coming only months after a Miami appeals court declared unconstitutional a Florida law -- the only one of its kind in the U.S. -- that banned adoption by gay men and lesbians. Both Sheldon and then-Attorney General Bill McCollum chose not to appeal the Third District Court of Appeal's ruling to the Florida Supreme Court, saying the decision held sway throughout the state. Sheldon ordered his leadership team to cease enforcing the ban. But Wilkins and Scott could challenge the Miami ruling by refusing to allow a gay man or woman to adopt elsewhere in the state -- which could trigger an appeal to the state's highest court. On its website, the Baptist Children's Home says that "in order to adopt through the Florida Baptist Children's Homes we require that you be a professing Christian, be active in a local Christian church, and follow a lifestyle that is consistent with the Christian faith.'' Howard Simon, head of of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which represented Martin Gill in his successful challenge to the law banning gays and lesbians from adopting, said, ``we're certainly concerned about whether this might mean the state might try to undo our historic adoption victory."

RELATED: Today Florida parent Martin Gill and his partner were able to finally officially adopt their two foster sons. It was Gill's ACLU-backed lawsuit that overturned Florida's ban on gay adoption.

Elton And David And Son

Elton John and David Furnish give the world its first look of their newborn son via OK Magazine today.

When asked who Zachary's biological father is, Furnish replied: 'We both contributed. For the time being we don't have a clue. We look at him every day and at the moment he has Elton's nose and my hands. 'Neither of us care. He's our child. The important thing is that he's healthy and happy and loved.' Elton also said he and Furnish are both determined to be as 'hands on' as possible with Zachary. He added: 'I feed him. David feeds him. We change his nappies. I mean, it's hands on! We are on nappy patrol.'