CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The first baby born in the Washington, D.C., metro area in 2003 initially posed what seemed to be a problem. "Can we get a picture of the baby with its mother?" a photographer asked. "Sure--which mother would you like?" responded Joanna Bare, 35, one of the baby's two mothers. Photos of the baby were taken with both Bare and her partner, Helen Rubin, 33, the biological mother, The Washington Post reports. And now the couple and their new baby have become an unofficial poster family for gay and lesbian parents seeking equality in parental rights. Bare and Rubin moved from Vienna, Va., to Bethesda, Md., just last week because they say it would have been impossible for them to have shared full parental rights in Virginia. "Virginia does not permit second-parent adoption," said the couple's attorney, Mina Ketchi. "Quite frankly, in these matters of law, Virginia is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th century--and we're in the 21st century. It is not a very gay-friendly state." Ketchi says she recommends that gay parents in Virginia move their families to Maryland, the District of Columbia, or Pennsylvania. Bare and Rubin have been together for 12 years. "We eventually decided it was time to have kids, like anyone else would," Rubin said. "Hopefully, we'll be like any family."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM