queerspawn.community

Before I launched queerspawn.community I installed Mint to keep track of who is checking out the site and where they come from.

I've learned some really interesting things...

Most viewed entry on the blog: Doner Sibling Registry (22 times)
Unique Visitors for November: 115
Unique Visitors so far in December: 102

Why am I doing this?
The particularities of who's who is of no interest to me (nor is it available.) What is important is how you find the site. Are you coming to this site from a link somewhere else? Or did you find the site through Google? I want this site to be accessible to as many people as possible, so it is helpful to know where you are coming from in order to get the site out to more readers.

Today I noticed that I had two visitors who came from searching "my dads gay" in google. I have no idea who searched for this, but now I know you are searching out there...

I hope queerspawn.com can provide some answers and community.

Posted by kate rw at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After working and organizing within the queerspawn community for over a decade I've met lots of families who've been brave enough to share their stories with the press. Which results in a bizarre phenomenon of seeing your friends or friends-of-friends on tv or in print.

Is this how celebrities feel? To walk in the the supermarket and see the person you just had dinner with on the cover of a magazine. To turn on the TV and see your friends on talk shows.

The families in the press often know each other through COLAGE or other organizations, but our families ties run deeper than one organization. I've often wondered about making some sort of queerspawn chart, much like the lesbian linkage charts written on napkins for years and now popularized on the L word.

I got to thinking about this tonight as I watched this month's In the Life on "Downsizing Stereotypes" in the workplace. At the tail end of the show was a segment on coming out in the workplace. I recognized Sandy Russo as one of the moms featured in Meema Spadola's documentary "Our House." Russo also happens to be the mom of Ry Russo-Young, who was featured on the cover of the New York Times magazine.

Posted by kate rw at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had the pleasure of indulging in some Broadway this past week while on vacation in New York.

A relatively newcomer to the Great White Way, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has some fun unexpected queer content. Contestant Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre is introduced as the President of her elementary school Gay-Straight Alliance, she stops to thank her Dads before spelling and sings her solo "Woe is me"

A sampling:
Though I practice yoga
I don’t breathe
I try not to disappoint
But still I
Disappoint the dads
Who my friends mock
Kids are mean
Kids’ll talk
All my so-called friends roll their eyes
They’re incredibly petty
Because my dads are my dads
And alright enough already
Woe is me
Which is why I gotta win
This spelling bee

Incidently, the music itself isn't groundbreaking, but the humor of the dialog is well worth it. (So much so that it won last year at the Tony's.)

>>Check out the Putnam County soundtrack on iTunes

Posted by at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This week Brits will now be able to register for civil partnerships. And last week South Africa's highest court ruled in favor of gay marriage.

Check out the Dec 6th Talk of the Nation segment on "Examining Gay Marriage Abroad."

Posted by at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

as a part of this hidden minority i grew up with a burden thats silence did not ease its weight. my personality at home with my dad differed from my character around my mother and even more so from my public self. with age, however, came understanding and eventually true appreciation. having a gay father, what i had seen as embarrassing and compromising of my ideal vision of family transformed into a precious asset.

queerspawn defines a community that values having nontraditional parents. to identify as a member of this community i cannot hold a passive perspective. others may disagree, but i find that being a member of a community means playing an active role. there aren't communities for people with blue eyes, right? it's not just about biological fact - it's a living, breathing piece of my character. because accessibility to queer resources is severely limited due to disease, stigma, and a scattered population i have a responsibility as the gay son of a gay man to share my experiences, observations, and stories.

i own my homosexuality. i am thankful for my father's homosexuality. most importantly i treasure our queer family and i never take for granted the opportunities and human lessons afforded to me because of it.

--Brendan Ranson Walsh

Posted by at 02:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)