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England footballer hopes becoming a gay parent will send a positive message

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Casey Stoney and Megan Harris are expecting twins Get the latest LGBT headlines in your inbox with our free daily newsletter! Join Share on WhatsApp 0 reader comments

England footballer Casey Stoney and her partner Megan Harris have announced that they are expecting twins, and say they hope being gay parents in the public eye will send a positive message.

The pair this week announced that they are expecting twins, and reports suggest that Harris is 22-weeks pregnant.

In a column for BBC Sport, Stoney, former England Captain, reflected on becoming a mum in a same-sex relationship, and that motherhood is taboo in women’s football because time off from playing is usually required.

She said: “Being gay parents may not be that common in football but, in my view, as long as children have the love and support they need, then it shouldn’t matter whether they are brought up by two mums, two dads or a mum and a dad. What does a normal family look like now anyway? There isn’t one and I would hope there would be no negativity around our situation.”

Describing the moment she and Harris discovered they were having twins as “the scariest and most amazing” moment of her life.

She continues: “Now I seem to be taking steps to stand out, which is a bit foreign to me. But I wouldn’t have done things like this if I didn’t feel comfortable with a fantastic partner and family around me.

“I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved and I’m not ashamed of who I am. Hopefully, when our two get older they will look at their mum and be proud too,” she concluded.

In an interview with the Lincolnshire Echo, Harris, who played with Stoney at Lincoln Ladies, said: 

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Rev. Cameron Partridge, Transgender Priest, Shares Message Of Acceptance At Washington National Cathedral

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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) – An Episcopal chaplain on Sunday became the first openly transgender priest to preach at the historic National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
The Reverend Dr. Cameron Partridge, one of seven openly transgender clergy in the Episcopal Church, spoke from the Canterbury Pulpit in honor of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community’s Pride Month, the Cathedral said.
Partridge told congregants in his guest appearance he was proud to be a part of a church that was pushing for acceptance of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
“As we behold one another in these days of celebration may we honor the way we sustain each other,” he said.
Partridge, who began transitioning to male from female over a decade ago, is the Episcopal Chaplain at Boston University and a lecturer and counselor at Harvard Divinity School.
Reverend Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, presided over the service on Sunday, which included readings and prayers by gay, lesbian and transgender church members.
The Episcopal Church, an independent U.S.-based institution affiliated with global Anglicanism, voted in 2012 to allow the ordination of transgender people and also approved same-sex marriage blessings.
Last week, a gathering of U.S. Presbyterian Church leaders followed suit, voting to allow their clergy to perform same-sex weddings.
The Episcopal Church approved its first openly gay bishop in 2003, when Reverend Robinson ascended to lead the diocese of New Hampshire.
The move was met with controversy. Hundreds of parishes opposed his consecration, saying the church was becoming too liberal. (Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere in New York; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

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US: Bill Clinton to pay tribute to gay rights heroes in televised message

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Bill CLinton will speak in support of gay rights in the message 0 reader comments

Bill Clinton is to back gay rights in a televised message this week, to mark the first anniversary of the repeal of DOMA.

The former US President will appear Thursday to introduce a documentary on Logo, Trailblazers, marking the one year anniversary of the repeal of the Defence of Marriage Act.

According to the New York Times, Clinton will say he was “honoured and grateful to be among the voices urging” for the Supreme Court to strike down DOMA – which he himself signed in 1996 – banning federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

Praising plaintiff Edith Windsor and lawyer Roberta A. Kaplan, he will say: “As marriage equality spreads across the states, the number of people impacted by these two amazing women will only continue to grow.”

Clinton publicly backed the repeal of DOMA last year, writing “it was a very different time” when the legislation was passed.

His comments come after his wife came under scrutiny for her own stance on same-sex marriage.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who is strongly rumoured to be running for President in 2016, earlier this month shot down a radio host who questioned her late support for same-sex marriage.

She said: “I think you are being very persistent, but you are playing with my words and playing with what is such an important issue.

“I think you’re trying to say I used to be opposed and now I’m in favour and I did it for political reasons, and that’s just flat wrong.”

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