Posted by Susan Berland on Monday, October 19, 2009,
In :
Gay Rights
While at the National Equality March, I met Scott and Hope and their son Tyler. They were there marching together for equality for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. I asked them to share their story.
Posted by Susan Berland on Friday, August 28, 2009,
In :
Family
That’s me – I’m all about time with my family: my husband, my children & grandchildren (when I’m lucky enough to get it!), having fun and making memories. And I take lots of pictures when I’m doing it so I can relive those precious moments time and time again.
I’ve always been that way, but today I actually do something concrete with my photos – I actually put them in albums and tell the story of my pictures. When my children were young (and I was too) I didn’t have time to m... Continue reading ...
“The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, Aug. 18, to preserve an adoption by the state’s only openly gay legislator. Sen. Julia Boseman’s (D-New Hanover) former partner, Melissa Jarrell, had sought to void Boseman’s parental rights. Jarrell gave birth to the couple’s six-year-old son, whom Boseman later adopt...
Posted by Susan Berland on Monday, June 15, 2009,
In :
Freedom to Marry
According to dictionary.com, a family is defined (in part) as:
1. “parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not 2. the children of one person or one couple collectively 3. the spouse and children of one person”
There is no mention of a mother and father, perhaps it is assumed. In the rhetoric of the religious right, a family is one thing – a mother, a father and the children they produce together. I’ve heard them say that every child needs that...
Posted by Susan Berland on Friday, May 22, 2009,
In :
Relationships
This is such a historic time in the gay rights movement. Proposition 8 passed in November and we were devastated. Gays and Lesbians all over the country rallied in support of the gay marriage movement. It reminded me of the scenes I saw in the movie “Milk.” The gay rights movement of the 70s is alive and well with a new cause – marriage equality. And with the Supreme Court Decision due this Tuesday, May 26th, there will be rallies again across the state.
Posted by Susan Berland on Sunday, May 17, 2009,
In :
Gay Rights
I'm straight. One of my sons is straight; one son is gay. Did any of us choose to be that way? Were we born that way?
In the discussions on gay marriage on someone’s blog, I stated, "As the mother of a gay son, you cannot tell me when he is denied the very same rights my straight son has, that is not about equality and civil rights."
I received the following comment:
"Neither of your sons are denied any rights. You have one son who chooses not to marry the opposite gender and thus he is ...
Posted by Susan Berland on Monday, May 4, 2009,
In :
Marriage Equality
Had I written this 20 years ago when Rick first came out, it would have been quite different. I might have written about my fears of gay bashing, harassment, job discrimination, AIDS.
Today my thoughts turn to more mundane things. Well, not mundane considering the state of the economy, but average – having nothing to do with his being gay.
How secure is his job? What ifs… I worry about the same things every mother worries about. Even though Rick and Jeff live in a safe neighborhood, ...
Posted by Susan Berland on Thursday, April 30, 2009,
In :
Gay Marriage
So, now I’m the mother of a gay son. I’ve marched in the gay pride parade. I’m somewhat out of the closet, but not all together comfortable yet. Everyone in the family knows and thankfully accepts and loves Rick. The only people he hasn’t yet told are his biological father and his parents. I was concerned about how my parents would react – they are older and from another generation, but they love their grandson unconditionally and tell him they just want him to be happy. My mom c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Susan Berland on Sunday, April 26, 2009,
In :
Coming Out
In the first weeks and months after finding out my son was gay, this liberal thinking woman, with some gay and lesbian friends, didn’t want anyone to find out! I was afraid of what they’d think, what they’d say. They might voice my fear, “He’s gay because you were overbearing, too controlling, you divorced his father, robbing him of male influence.” I knew that was a stereotype and not true, but the fear was there.
The first thing I told him when he gold me he was gay (after I... Continue reading ...
Posted by Susan Berland on Wednesday, April 22, 2009,
In :
Gay Rights
I’m a mother. I have two sons. Does a mother love her children equally? When my first son was born, I was only 20 years old – way too young to be a mother and too young to know it! 40 years later I can still remember the wonder of the new life that was being created inside my womb, the thrill of feeling him kick for the first time. That love is pretty special.
Twenty two months later my second son was born. Could I really love another child as much? Did I have that much love to give? Love ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Susan Berland on Wednesday, April 8, 2009,
In :
Coming Out
It’s December, 1988. My husband, younger son and I had moved to San Rafael in August, leaving Rick in Los Angeles. The phone rings and Rick says, “Mom, when you visit next month, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.” I asked him what it was about, but he didn’t want to talk about it on the phone. I hung up with a slight sense of dread – one only a mom knows. I told my husband what Rick had said and then I say, “Do you think he’s going to tell me he’s gay?”... Continue reading ...
A gay marriage activist and a Jewish mother with a quirky sense of humor, helping couples and families turn their photos into legacies with beautiful memory books. It’s all about fairness and equality.
A gay marriage activist and a Jewish mother with a quirky sense of humor, helping couples and families turn their photos into legacies with beautiful memory books. It’s all about fairness and equality.
