Society had it all worked out for me in advance. As I was growing up, the message, though implicit, was loud and clear: Because I'm female, any of my future romantic endeavors would concern the male kind. This presented difficulties when I came to realize that I like girls, not...

When Ellen DeGeneres announced her same-gender attraction 16 years ago, she was criticized. When Jodie Foster casually but affectionately spoke of her same-gender partner last week, she was criticized, but for different reasons, essentially for not doing it sooner. She was further criticized for not making any big announcement and...

To C. Everett Koop, "Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation."

I wrote previously about marriage being a part of my future as I see it. My thoughts, I notice, are now beginning to edge slowly toward the idea of...

Is love the basis for every marriage? Is that why Ireland's deputy head of government, Eamon Gilmore, in support of marriage equality, publicly announced that he did not think it was the job of the state to "determine who people should fall in love with, or who they...

Last year saw some major advances toward achieving a reality of equal treatment and equal opportunity for every person in Ireland in matters relating to gender and orientation. 2012 saw a shift in attitude, a shift in opinion, a shift toward justice and fairness. Over the course of the year,...

Last weekend, on my personal blog, I wrote briefly about Rosa Parks, as Dec. 1 marked the anniversary of her legendary stance for equal rights. She once said that she "would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and...

National Coming Out Day, founded in 1988, is observed annually on Oct. 11 to celebrate coming out with regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and to raise awareness of the LGBT community.

2012 has been a pivotal year, particularly the summer months, and has shown that times most definitely...

Opinion is divided over Pride parades. Are they good for the community? To me, Pride is a special day. It's that sense of inclusion that fills the air, a time of great embrace and large-scale celebration. A feeling of unity sweeps through the crowd. For that day, I feel surrounded...

When I was younger, I never dreamed of my wedding day. I don't know why, exactly, but thoughts of it just didn't excite me, and they didn't really come into my mind. It wasn't something I thought I wanted. It's not something I want right now, but I will in...

Just under 11,000 athletes from around the world arrived in London last week to partake in the Olympic Games. As I understand it, at least 23 of these athletes are openly gay. These sport-stars include Megan Rapinoe, Matthew Mitcham, Jessica Landström, Lisa Raymond and Seimone Augustus -- household names.

These...

A Note to My Kid gives the LGBTQ community, their parents, families and friends the opportunity to share their unconditional love with one another. I recently submitted a Note I wrote to my mother. I also took the opportunity to write a Note to...

I haven't had the opportunity to get to know many people from the transgender community. The concept and reality of it is definitely something I want to learn more about. I feel lucky that I've met Meggan. I feel even luckier that she has discussed with me her personal experiences,...

Last week I was looking for ideas on what to write about. What you look for you find. I came across A Note to My Kid. I was intrigued by their name, so I browsed their website. As it turned out, and to my delight, their "

Is marriage about being gay? Or is marriage about the union of two committed, consenting adults who are in love? Love sees no gender; why, then, does marriage? The movement is for equal treatment in the granting of marriage rights, without the law making any distinction on the basis of...

I wrote a blog not so long ago about marriage, outlining my thoughts on what I believe are the potential effects of referring to marriage by any other name. Carrie Underwood's recent show of support for equality illustrates that the agenda is very much "gay marriage."

The issue of marriage equality is currently a hot topic. Political leaders, celebrities and proponents from many disciplines are publicly lending their support in favor of equal treatment, and admirably so. These people are making the headlines. These headlines, however, are illustrating a growing trend. Everybody's calling it "gay marriage."...

This post is written in my capacity as an Irish citizen. The sentiments contained within are equally applicable wherever marriage equality is at issue, particularly those places where the legislative arm is stalling.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I've come to see...

I was thrilled to be asked recently by Women Writers, Women Books about blogging on The Huffington Post. Aside from the obvious compliment, it also afforded me a welcome opportunity to recount my experience so far and remind myself of what I want to achieve. My writing journey...

I don't know the name of the author of the quotation in the title, but I do know what was meant by it.

Do our moms know us better than we know ourselves? "I knew before you did!" my mom says with a smile nowadays. I couldn't come out back...

Mom always knows best. That's how the old saying goes. I didn't always believe it when I was younger. My teenage years certainly challenged it. Despite our quarrels, however, I never doubted the influence of her motherly guiding force. Thankfully, and owed to her, I always knew right from wrong....