If I’ve learned anything from watching ABC Family and camping in the Adirondacks, it’s that you should never ever fuck with a mom. Ever. Now remember that when we’re talking about lesbians, we’re talking about Two Moms. That’s double Moms and therefore double Not To Be Fucked With. Right here right now I bring you some tales of people who didn’t exactly think that through.
Yesterday, in Troy, Michigan, a lesbian mother confronted Mayor Janice Daniels. You might remember Daniels as the city mayor who thought it was okay to post “I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there” on her Facebook. Just to clarify, perhaps for all of our moms who are reading this, queer is only okay when I say it.
Troy community members appeared at the December 6 City Council meeting to express their general concerns (read: disgust) at Daniels’s comments. This included Amy Weber who spoke directly to Daniels alongside her wife Tina and their two daughters Logan and Aiden. Weber’s words were so heartfelt and adorable it was actually kind of hard to watch. I had to keep reminding myself to stuff all my feelings down in to a little bottle at the pit of my stomach.
We talk every day about different families and different types of people and teaching respect and kindness. That is the heart that beats in our house — is about being kind, about choosing love over everything. When I told them about your comments when they wanted to know why we were coming today, they wanted to do something for you and that was to draw you a picture.
Logan drew a picture that just said “Love,” and Aiden drew a picture of her and her sister in their house with the captions “Love” and “Only Answer.” Honestly, how could anyone argue with that? Weber went on to encourage Daniels to join the next pride parade leading the march. After the public comments finished, around 1am, Daniels told local news, “I’m very, very moved by the whole experience, and I’m going to be making some considerations certainly in the future.”
As it turns out, even if you can face your mayor and tell them their behavior is wrong, it’s much harder to do so with the IRS. Even if you’re married, the federal government makes filing taxes super complicated by basically treating same-sex couples like two random people who just happen to live in the same home and maybe adopt each other’s children (if that’s legal in their state, which hey, it may not be). But for a while there was one tax benefit. When someone adopts, they can claim the federal adoption tax credit unless, by Section 36C(d)(1)(C) they are adopting their spouse’s children. Since same-sex couples aren’t spouses according to the federal government, they remain eligible for this $13,360 tax credit. However, several lesbian couples, including Beth and Coleen Jennings have received letter saying they were ineligible for the credit and/or have had their taxes audited. The most common reasons given are that the birth mother has not relinquished parental rights or that the woman is adopting her domestic partner’s child. Neither of these reasons are listed as exceptions to the federal adoption tax credit, and by the IRS’s own account “if a “domestic partner adopts the child of his or her partner as a second parent” then “the limitation in section 36C(d)(1)(C) does not apply to adoptions by registered domestic partners because registered domestic partners are not spouses as defined by federal law.” BAM! You just got lawyered.
It’s unclear if the IRS is recognizing same-sex unions only when it is convenient for them or is merely unprepared to deal with marriages that are recognized at the state but not the federal levels. According to Beth Jennings, when she contacted the IRS, it seemed that her agent was confused as to why the credit was denied. “There is probably a place in the flow chart for the guy answering the phone, and it probably stopped or didn’t include this scenario.” According to Santa Clara Law sexuality and federal tax law expert Professor Patricia Cain, “Nobody thinks the adoption credit was created to help lesbian mothers…But they are certainly entitled to it as long as the clear meaning of the statute grants it to them.”
In other Your Partner Had a Baby news, lesbian finance minister Penny Wong just announced the birth of her baby daughter. Wong’s partner Sophie Allouache gave birth to the couples daughter, Alexandra, at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital where she weighed in at 7.1lb. Wong was partially responsible for the recent change in the Australian Labor Party’s platform with regard to same-sex marriage. Proposed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard (who does not personally support same-sex marriage) members of Labor party may now vote on same-sex marriage bills in accordance to their own values. Despite her personal views, Wong said that she had been text messaging with the Prime Minister (did I really just type that?) who was delighted to hear the news.
VIA DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
The news of Wong’s baby comes just as a kindergartner was rejected from an Australian Catholic elementary school for having lesbian parents. The young girl was reportedly rejected a spot at Sacred Heart Primary School in Broken Hill in New South Wales. Principal Trevor Rynne confirmed that the girl was no accepted due to her parents’ relationship, but refused to give any further comments. New South Wale Greens Member of Parliament John Kaye criticized the school’s discrimination, pointing out that public funds makes up 85% of their budget. Though Kaye called on New South Wales government to intervene, this will be unnecessary as Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta, Kevin Manning, called the school’s decision “absolutely appalling” and remarked that there was “no way in the world that we can persecute a child because of what their parents did.” Though I’m not psyched that Manning said that a child can’t be held responsible for their parent’s “sins,” I am impressed that Manning issued orders to offer the child a place at Sacred Heart. This turned out to be irrelevant because the couple declined Sacred Heart’s subsequent offer. The couple hasn’t comment on why they declined the school’s offer, but I’m guessing it has something to do with not wanting their daughter to attend a school that’s more conservative than your average Catholic bishop. See? Lesbian moms can have personal values just as rigid as the average conservative’s. It’s a staunch Don’t Fuck With My Kids value.
“sex-sex couples” I prefer this.
certainly cuts down on lbd.
Fixed. Sadly. You may now go back to your previously scheduled lbd.
Apparently that lady lost her job over the comments-> http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/14/homophobic-mayor-loses-her-job/ Im not too sure how I feel about that, while I obviously detest what she said, it’s sad to see anyone lose their job as they’re not easy to come by these days.
I do find that sad :( That said I understand her boss’s position as well – if you’re going to have your name (hers or the company’s) plastered all over books, if you’re a sales figure, etc., you don’t want to be alienating potential clients/don’t want to be associated with that.
Also I think it shows astounding lack of judgement. What exactly was she trying to say/prove? If she’s willing to put that on her FB page what would she say to coworkers or clients?
I agree that it’s sad but I also don’t necessarily fault her boss.
Janice Daniels just got classy lesbian’d. That was awesome.
That photo of Penny Wong and family turns me into a gooey mess. Adorable.
As some of us pointed out on a previous Sunday Funday that talked about it, the conscience vote is actually a setback for marriage equality in Australia. It’s a political compromise that is doomed to fail, so I don’t think it should be heralded as any kind of step forward. The change to the Labor Party platform, however, is a great thing.
It’s not necessarily a set back as long as we can get the liberals to follow suit. There are queers on the other side (although fuck knows why any self respecting queer person would let Tony Abbott be their leader…) and they should be allowed to vote in favour of marriage equality too. /political rant.
They should be, but I don’t see it happening. I really think we’re going to have to wait for Tony Abbott to win the election, ruin most of the country and get ousted before we see any real tangible changes.
Meanwhile, I have so much respect for Penny Wong. She copped a lot of flack for outwardly toeing the party line on equality, when its pretty clear she’s been working really hard to change things from the inside out. We need more pollies with her kind of integrity and less with Abbotts knee-jerk rhetoric.
I agree with you about Penny Wong, Cat. People were very harsh on her about it. I think some people are so used to thinking of equal marriage as a civil rights issue (to be achieved by protests and petitions and speeches) that they could only see her as a traitor and not think about the fact that a bit of clever politicking might also be necessary or helpful.
Am I the only one who thinks she’s hot? I probably am. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I saw her speak at a women’s lunch when I was 18 and couldn’t explain the funny feelings I had when I looked at her :p
The Liberals allowing a conscience vote on same-sex marriage? Ahahaha. You’re adorable.
I wish I didn’t like this comment so much.
Gem, I think it’s a setback – after all if the Labor Party had pushed the legislation through the Parliament as a single voting bloc, then equal marriage would stand a much better chance of becoming reality in Australia.
Secondly, even IF Tony Abbott allows a conscience vote, it’s not like the majority of Liberals support gay marriage, queers in the party or not.
Abbott won’t allow a conscience vote, but I’m a little baffled as to why. It would’ve been a politically advantageous move; now that Labor’s not voting as a block, there aren’t the numbers in either party.
Michigan moms? BAMFS.
Anyone else take issue with Janice’s interview in the videos? Did this happen before or after the public comments? ‘Cause she was being ridiculous.
“I just said one word, one word, that’s all.”
“This is a lesson for all of us…true forgiveness means…putting it behind you…”
Seems like she is more remorseful that there was a backlash against it, not that she said it in the first place, and lecturing the people who took issue with her bigotry on forgiveness isn’t exactly very becoming…
Geez, am I glad not to be living in the U.S. of A. or Australia. Our kid is welcome everywhere and her pediatrician can never remember which of us gave birth to her because ‘she has such strong features of both of you’. Daycares have told us they would love to have us to create more diversity among their clients. Granted, we do live in a pretty liberal, left-winged city in Germany.
That picture with the baby is absolutely ADORABLE. Congratulations to them.
Go Michigan moms!! Also, can I just say she’s a MILF? That is one gorgeous mom.
Michigan moms were awesome!