Latest news with #samesexmarriage
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queer Couple Dreamed of Starting a Family. After 3 Heartbreaking Pregnancy Loses, They're Trying Something New (Exclusive)
Kristin and Melanie started off as coworkers and later found an undeniable connection The two, now married six years, have spent the last four years on a journey to start their family, with the help of a friend who has agreed to be their donor Kristin tells PEOPLE about walking this journey with her wife, the decision to crowdfund the next step and what their hopes are for sharing their storyA couple who found love unexpectedly are ready to start the next chapter of their happy ending. Kristin and wife Melanie met while working together and hit it off quickly. Neither had been in a same-sex relationship before, but decided to take a chance when they realized how strong their connection had become. "As our relationship got deeper, we realized we were sort of at a crossroads. I never would have thought my life would have went this way, but we decided it was something that felt really good and exciting," Kristin tells PEOPLE. "We both decided to say yes to love and be open to whatever could come our way. It was such a beautiful beginning to the relationship, just one of the happiest times in our lives." The couple fell in love and eventually decided to marry. With excited discussion of the future came the subject of growing their family, which they both knew would be a complex journey. They tied the knot six years ago, but started their fertility journey in 2021. "We put if off a few years. We wanted to get more established in our careers and buy a house, check off some of those bucket list items first," Kristin says. "Then in 2021, we started joking with our friend about being our sperm donor. He said, 'No, I would seriously consider that.' " Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Having that possibility on the table made the conversation less hypothetical and more rooted in what their reality could be. "We had so many deep, connecting conversations, with each other and with our friend. We kind of really fleshed out what that sort of family structure would look like and what his role in our child's life would be. It was important to us to have a donor who would provide that connection to the biological for our child. We live in a small, semi-conservative town, so we're creating a unique family that you wouldn't see too many examples of around here." As the discussions progressed, Kristin and Melanie confirmed their donor was in alignment with their vision. Their only hesitation were their concerns for his future. "He didn't have a partner at that time and we were like, 'We know you want to meet someone. How do you think that person will fit into the equation?' Luckily, he ended up meeting the best girl and she's totally accepted our journey and become a huge part of it. We just feel really lucky that we've connected with these two," she shares. Kristin and Melanie came to the decision that Kristin would carry their baby. From fall 2021 through spring 2022, she underwent fertility testing to ensure that her body was primed for the process. "We were a little bit blown away at how invasive the process was, but we understood. And of course, none of this was covered by insurance, but we didn't let that deter us. We saved for this process and knew what to expect," she says. With a bill of good health, Kristin was cleared, with plans to start with intrauterine inseminations (IUI). They experienced success early on, but it ended in a chemical pregnancy. "That triggered another level of testing and everything just kept coming back normal. But the IUIs just weren't working, and our doctor didn't really have an answer," she explains. Doing research within their own community, it was suggested that they try at-home insemination with a fresh donation. "Our donor and his partner were on board, so we tried three or four rounds of that. Two of those times worked, but they both ended in pretty early miscarriages," Kristin shares. "After the third pregnancy loss, I approached my nurse practitioner, and she was basically like, 'Yeah, you're gonna want to just do IVF,' " Kristin says. "There are so many more variables you can control for in that process. You can do genetic testing of embryos. But we'd been really hesitant to the IVF process, even though the possibility was always in the back of our minds." The decision was emotional for the couple. "The middle of last year, we were kind of recovering from pretty sad pregnancy losses and trying to gather our courage and feelings and take stock of where we were at." "It has felt lonely at times and totally devastating. We've really had to rely on each other and we've always kind of had a motto of, 'We're stronger and better together.' This process has really tested that, with us each grieving in our own separate ways while also trying to support the grieving partner in her process," Kristin says. "It's been vulnerable and scary, especially when so many other people around us are able to grow their families in more conventional ways, even when using assisted reproduction. It definitely brings up feelings of jealousy, loss, resentment. So we've really had to work through that together as a couple." Looking at the decision from all sides, they decided to move forward with IVF. Of course, the decision isn't an easy one. After having spent more than $10,000 on IUI, sperm banking, various testing and more, the decision came with more than $30,000 in out-of-pocket costs. However, "We decided that we were committed to this idea of creating a family, rooted in love and connection and hope and positivity," Kristin explains. "I think the intention with which we're going into this makes us both feel so much more prepared and connected for the process of motherhood. We've spent so much time over the last three or four years thinking about what kind of mothers we want to be, what kind of family we want to create," Kristin says. "We've discussed our values and what we want to provide as an ideological foundation for our family. This process has really solidified our commitment to each other, to our marriage and to the process of becoming moms together. I feel like it's really strengthened us and made us even more certain that what we're doing is the right decision for us." Kristin and Melanie began vetting fertility clinics and found one that made them feel comfortable on an individual level and as a LGBTQ couple. Next up is some more testing for both Kristin and their donor ahead of a tentative egg retrieval this summer. The couple has found "solace" in seeing others share their journey in depth on social media, and while that isn't their chosen avenue, they hope sharing their story via GoFundMe will bring the realities of their journey to an audience that can feel seen in their own journeys. "It's super vulnerable. Talking about finances publicly is really scary and not something we took lightly. We had several friends and family members saying to us that they'd love to help in whatever way they could. We realized for some, that might be financial, but sharing our story was also important," Kristin explains. "We're doing this out of a want and a desire to create life and love and bring this beautiful, already so wanted person, into the world. We are really grateful for a platform that everybody we love can access," she adds. "It's been so positive and given people insight into what we are going through. We also wanted to have this message of hope for our future child, to be able to say to them, 'Look how many people supported you and already wanted you here.' All these people are waiting in the wings with love and encouragement and excitement before they're even here." Queer couples face many challenges in starting their families, but Kristin and Melanie hope that their story proves that making these family dreams come true can happen with love and support to see it through. "Our family is here," Kristin adds. "Our family has just as much a right to be here as any other family, and if we can share our story and our journey to normalize it for others who are maybe at the very beginning of their journey or wondering, 'Should we do it? Should we not?' " She continues, "I just want any family to know they can have that family, and if our story can do anything to solidify someone's decision to start the family of their dreams, then it's been worth it, and that's amazing." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queer Couple Dreamed of Starting a Family. After 3 Heartbreaking Pregnancy Loses, They're Trying Something New (Exclusive)
Kristin and Melanie started off as coworkers and later found an undeniable connection The two, now married six years, have spent the last four years on a journey to start their family, with the help of a friend who has agreed to be their donor Kristin tells PEOPLE about walking this journey with her wife, the decision to crowdfund the next step and what their hopes are for sharing their storyA couple who found love unexpectedly are ready to start the next chapter of their happy ending. Kristin and wife Melanie met while working together and hit it off quickly. Neither had been in a same-sex relationship before, but decided to take a chance when they realized how strong their connection had become. "As our relationship got deeper, we realized we were sort of at a crossroads. I never would have thought my life would have went this way, but we decided it was something that felt really good and exciting," Kristin tells PEOPLE. "We both decided to say yes to love and be open to whatever could come our way. It was such a beautiful beginning to the relationship, just one of the happiest times in our lives." The couple fell in love and eventually decided to marry. With excited discussion of the future came the subject of growing their family, which they both knew would be a complex journey. They tied the knot six years ago, but started their fertility journey in 2021. "We put if off a few years. We wanted to get more established in our careers and buy a house, check off some of those bucket list items first," Kristin says. "Then in 2021, we started joking with our friend about being our sperm donor. He said, 'No, I would seriously consider that.' " Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Having that possibility on the table made the conversation less hypothetical and more rooted in what their reality could be. "We had so many deep, connecting conversations, with each other and with our friend. We kind of really fleshed out what that sort of family structure would look like and what his role in our child's life would be. It was important to us to have a donor who would provide that connection to the biological for our child. We live in a small, semi-conservative town, so we're creating a unique family that you wouldn't see too many examples of around here." As the discussions progressed, Kristin and Melanie confirmed their donor was in alignment with their vision. Their only hesitation were their concerns for his future. "He didn't have a partner at that time and we were like, 'We know you want to meet someone. How do you think that person will fit into the equation?' Luckily, he ended up meeting the best girl and she's totally accepted our journey and become a huge part of it. We just feel really lucky that we've connected with these two," she shares. Kristin and Melanie came to the decision that Kristin would carry their baby. From fall 2021 through spring 2022, she underwent fertility testing to ensure that her body was primed for the process. "We were a little bit blown away at how invasive the process was, but we understood. And of course, none of this was covered by insurance, but we didn't let that deter us. We saved for this process and knew what to expect," she says. With a bill of good health, Kristin was cleared, with plans to start with intrauterine inseminations (IUI). They experienced success early on, but it ended in a chemical pregnancy. "That triggered another level of testing and everything just kept coming back normal. But the IUIs just weren't working, and our doctor didn't really have an answer," she explains. Doing research within their own community, it was suggested that they try at-home insemination with a fresh donation. "Our donor and his partner were on board, so we tried three or four rounds of that. Two of those times worked, but they both ended in pretty early miscarriages," Kristin shares. "After the third pregnancy loss, I approached my nurse practitioner, and she was basically like, 'Yeah, you're gonna want to just do IVF,' " Kristin says. "There are so many more variables you can control for in that process. You can do genetic testing of embryos. But we'd been really hesitant to the IVF process, even though the possibility was always in the back of our minds." The decision was emotional for the couple. "The middle of last year, we were kind of recovering from pretty sad pregnancy losses and trying to gather our courage and feelings and take stock of where we were at." "It has felt lonely at times and totally devastating. We've really had to rely on each other and we've always kind of had a motto of, 'We're stronger and better together.' This process has really tested that, with us each grieving in our own separate ways while also trying to support the grieving partner in her process," Kristin says. "It's been vulnerable and scary, especially when so many other people around us are able to grow their families in more conventional ways, even when using assisted reproduction. It definitely brings up feelings of jealousy, loss, resentment. So we've really had to work through that together as a couple." Looking at the decision from all sides, they decided to move forward with IVF. Of course, the decision isn't an easy one. After having spent more than $10,000 on IUI, sperm banking, various testing and more, the decision came with more than $30,000 in out-of-pocket costs. However, "We decided that we were committed to this idea of creating a family, rooted in love and connection and hope and positivity," Kristin explains. "I think the intention with which we're going into this makes us both feel so much more prepared and connected for the process of motherhood. We've spent so much time over the last three or four years thinking about what kind of mothers we want to be, what kind of family we want to create," Kristin says. "We've discussed our values and what we want to provide as an ideological foundation for our family. This process has really solidified our commitment to each other, to our marriage and to the process of becoming moms together. I feel like it's really strengthened us and made us even more certain that what we're doing is the right decision for us." Kristin and Melanie began vetting fertility clinics and found one that made them feel comfortable on an individual level and as a LGBTQ couple. Next up is some more testing for both Kristin and their donor ahead of a tentative egg retrieval this summer. The couple has found "solace" in seeing others share their journey in depth on social media, and while that isn't their chosen avenue, they hope sharing their story via GoFundMe will bring the realities of their journey to an audience that can feel seen in their own journeys. "It's super vulnerable. Talking about finances publicly is really scary and not something we took lightly. We had several friends and family members saying to us that they'd love to help in whatever way they could. We realized for some, that might be financial, but sharing our story was also important," Kristin explains. "We're doing this out of a want and a desire to create life and love and bring this beautiful, already so wanted person, into the world. We are really grateful for a platform that everybody we love can access," she adds. "It's been so positive and given people insight into what we are going through. We also wanted to have this message of hope for our future child, to be able to say to them, 'Look how many people supported you and already wanted you here.' All these people are waiting in the wings with love and encouragement and excitement before they're even here." Queer couples face many challenges in starting their families, but Kristin and Melanie hope that their story proves that making these family dreams come true can happen with love and support to see it through. "Our family is here," Kristin adds. "Our family has just as much a right to be here as any other family, and if we can share our story and our journey to normalize it for others who are maybe at the very beginning of their journey or wondering, 'Should we do it? Should we not?' " She continues, "I just want any family to know they can have that family, and if our story can do anything to solidify someone's decision to start the family of their dreams, then it's been worth it, and that's amazing." Read the original article on People
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Southern Baptists target porn, sports betting, same-sex marriage and 'willful childlessness'
Southern Baptists meeting this week in Dallas will be asked to approve resolutions calling for a legal ban on pornography and a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's approval of same-sex marriage. The proposed resolutions call for laws on gender, marriage and family based on what they say is the biblically stated order of divine creation. They also call for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, is also expected to debate controversies within its own house during its annual meeting Tuesday and Wednesday — such as a proposed ban on churches with women pastors. There are also calls to defund the organization's public policy arm, whose anti-abortion stance hasn't extended to supporting criminal charges for women having abortions. In a denomination where support for President Donald Trump is strong, there is little on the advance agenda referencing specific actions by Trump since taking office in January in areas such as tariffs, immigration or the pending budget bill containing cuts in taxes, food aid and Medicaid. Remnants of the epic showdown in Dallas 40 years ago Southern Baptists will be meeting on the 40th anniversary of another Dallas annual meeting. An epic showdown took place when a record-shattering 45,000 church representatives clashed in what became a decisive blow in the takeover of the convention — and its seminaries and other agencies — by a more conservative faction that was also aligned with the growing Christian conservative movement in presidential politics. The 1985 showdown was 'the hinge convention in terms of the old and the new in the SBC,' said Albert Mohler, who became a key agent in the denomination's rightward shift as longtime president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Attendance this week will likely be a fraction of 1985's, but that meeting's influence will be evident. Any debates will be among solidly conservative members. Many of the proposed resolutions — on gambling, pornography, sex, gender and marriage — reflect long-standing positions of the convention, though they are especially pointed in their demands on the wider political world. They are proposed by the official Committee on Resolutions, whose recommendations typically get strong support. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to 'pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family' and to oppose laws contradicting 'what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.' To some outside observers, such language is theocratic. 'When you talk about God's design for anything, there's not a lot of room for compromise,' said Nancy Ammerman, professor emerita of sociology of religion at Boston University. She was an eyewitness to the Dallas meeting and author of 'Baptist Battles,' a history of the 1980s controversy between theological conservatives and moderates. 'There's not a lot of room for people who don't have the same understanding of who God is and how God operates in the world,' she said. Mohler said the resolutions reflect a divinely created order that predates the writing of the Scriptures and is affirmed by them. He said the Christian church has always asserted that the created order 'is binding on all persons, in all times, everywhere.' Southern Baptist views more politically viable today Separate resolutions decry pornography and sports betting as destructive, calling for the former to be banned and the latter curtailed. At least some of these political stances are in the realm of plausibility at a time when their conservative allies control all levers of power in Washington and many have embraced aspects of a Christian nationalist agenda. A Southern Baptist, Mike Johnson, is speaker of the House of Representatives and third in line to the presidency. At least one Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas, has called for revisiting the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Other religious conservatives — including some in the Catholic postliberal movement, which has influenced Vice President JD Vance — have promoted the view that a robust government should legislate morality, such as banning pornography while easing church-state separation. And conservatives of various stripes have echoed one of the resolution's call for pro-natalist policies and its decrying of 'willful childlessness which contributes to a declining fertility rate.' Some call for eliminating Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Some preconvention talk has focused on defunding the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, which has been accused of being ineffective. Ten former Southern Baptist presidents endorsed its continued funding, though one other called for the opposite. A staunchly conservative group, the Center for Baptist Leadership, has posted online articles critical of the commission, which is adamantly anti-abortion but has opposed state laws criminalizing women seeking abortions. The commission has appealed to Southern Baptists for support, citing its advocacy for religious liberty and against abortion and transgender identity. 'Without the ERLC, you will send the message to our nation's lawmakers and the public at large that the SBC has chosen to abandon the public square at a time when the Southern Baptist voice is most needed,' said a video statement from the commission president, Brent Leatherwood. A group of Southern Baptist ethnic groups and leaders signed a statement in April citing concern over Trump's immigration crackdown, saying it has hurt church attendance and raised fears. 'Law and order are necessary, but enforcement must be accompanied with compassion that doesn't demonize those fleeing oppression, violence, and persecution,' the statement said. The Center for Baptist Leadership, however, denounced the denominational Baptist Press for working to 'weaponize empathy' in its reporting on the statement and Leatherwood for supporting it. Texas pastor Dwight McKissic, a Black pastor who shares many of the Southern Baptist Convention's conservative stances, criticized what he sees as a backlash against the commission, 'the most racially progressive entity in the SBC.' 'The SBC is transitioning from an evangelical organization to a fundamentalist organization,' he posted on the social media site X. 'Fewer and fewer Black churches will make the transition with them.' Amendment to ban churches with women pastors An amendment to ban churches with women pastors failed in 2024 after narrowly failing to gain a two-thirds supermajority for two consecutive years. It is expected to be reintroduced. The denomination's belief statement says the office of pastor is limited to men, but there remain disagreements over whether this applies only to the lead pastor or to assistants as well. In recent years, the convention began purging churches that either had women as lead pastors or asserted that they could serve that role. But when an SBC committee this year retained a South Carolina megachurch with a woman on its pastoral staff, some argued this proved the need for a constitutional amendment. (The church later quit the denomination of its own accord.) The meeting comes as the Southern Baptist Convention continues its long membership slide, down 2% in 2024 from the previous year in its 18th consecutive annual decline. The organization now reports a membership of 12.7 million members, still the largest among Protestant denominations, many of whom are shrinking faster. More promising are Southern Baptists' baptism numbers — a key spiritual vital sign. They stand at 250,643, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and, at least for now, reversing a long slide. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
