family and relationships

John at Family Scholars Blog

. At the Family Scholars blog, John participated in a forum on “Advice for the New Marriage Conversation,” David Blankenhorn’s initiative to move past the same-sex marriage debate to a common-ground effort strengthening marriage. From his post: Good conversations involve both talking and listening. The marriage conversation, especially when focused on “gay marriage,” has involved… Continue reading John at Family Scholars Blog

John at TNR on the Regnerus Study

Mark Regnerus’s new study, which purports to show significant differences between children raised in same-sex households and those raised in two-parent biological families, does no such thing. Here’s why. Update: Maggie Gallagher’s Reply, and My Rejoinder.

Frank Kameny: A Personal Remembrance

First published at Between the Lines News on October 20, 2011 I was in San Francisco when I received the news, about to go on stage to deliver a National Coming Out Day lecture. A friend texted me: “Frank Kameny passed away today.” The godfather of the gay rights movement was felled by a heart… Continue reading Frank Kameny: A Personal Remembrance

Farewell to Readers

First published at 365gay.com on June 24, 2011 This column marks the end of my weekly contribution to 365gay.com. It’s been a good run, and I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you and farewell. I’ve been a columnist since 2002, when I started contributing to Between the Lines, Michigan’s LGBT newspaper. Those… Continue reading Farewell to Readers

Gay Man in the Jury Box

First published at 365gay.com on June 10, 2011 “Are you married?” It seems like a simple question. But on closer glance, much depends on context. In this case, the context was jury duty. I was Candidate #13, sitting in the box during “voir dire,” the process wherein the judge and attorneys ask questions in order… Continue reading Gay Man in the Jury Box

When Gender Matters

First published at 365gay.com on June 3, 2011 Many years ago I was invited to present a paper at a philosophy conference. As usual, a respondent was assigned: a Professor Robin Somebody (I don’t recall the last name). I found out about the assignment by mail, and I remember wondering immediately, “Is Robin a man… Continue reading When Gender Matters

What Makes ‘Real’ Parents?

First published at 365gay.com on May 13, 2011 Many years ago, when I was about 10 years old, my father was driving me to school one day when a story came on the radio about a man convicted of abusing his own children. I said something like “I can’t believe a father would do that… Continue reading What Makes ‘Real’ Parents?

Biological Bonds and Gay Marriage

First published at 365gay.com on May 6, 2011 I’ve spent the last two weeks helping my sister care for my 5-month-old niece, Tess. I have two nieces: my sister’s baby, Tess, and my partner’s sister’s baby, Hadley. They were born a few weeks apart, and Mark and I have been reveling in the joys of… Continue reading Biological Bonds and Gay Marriage

The Meaning of Transgender

First published at 365gay.com on April 15, 2011 A friend recently asked, “Do you ever have doubts about the whole transgender thing?” My friend has a habit of referring to anything she hasn’t wrapped her mind around as a “thing,” which has the unfortunate effect of making whatever it is sound like a trend or… Continue reading The Meaning of Transgender

Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?

First published at 365gay.com on April 8, 2011 This column is about anal sex. So if you don’t like reading about such things, stop reading now. Many years ago I lived next door to a young born-again-Christian rock singer. (He probably would dislike reading about anal sex. Glad you’re still here, though.) While Jason strongly… Continue reading Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?