What do you think of Mary Cheney having a baby?

Question

I wish Mary and her partner of 14 years (Heather Poe) all the happiness in the world with their family. But, I can't help but wonder what Heather will think when she finds out that she is not legally considered a parent.

Answer 1

Indeed, they also have all my best wishes.

And, unfortunately, I'm sure she already knows that she can't legally be considered a parent in this sick world.

Answer 2

Lots of people have children, either by giving birth to one or through adoption; married straight couples, unmarried straight couples, single women, lesbian couples, gay men. In every case it is one woman who actually gives birth to the baby, and an egg from a woman (usually but not always the birth mother) and a sperm from a man is needed.
Becoming a parent is another matter altogether. A parent is an adult who takes on the responsibility to raise the child. A sperm donor is not a parent. Some people make good parents, others do not.
Both Ms. Cheney and Ms. Poe should be seen as the parents if they planned on having the baby together and share in the responsibilities of raising the child. Depending on where they live, there may be different laws on how they are labeled. I think that the child will be quite clear about who her/his parents are. Being a good parent is a lot of work, as well as a truly wonderful experience (IMHO). I wish them the best of luck.

Answer 3

Did you know that some right-wing crazy actually wrote some article saying that Dick Cheney should no longer be supported politically because he took a picture with Mary's baby, and now he is somehow supporting the eeevil, eeevil homosexuals? I wish I could remember where I saw it so I could link to it for you...

I also wish Mary and her partner all the best. May gay men and lesbians someday have equal rights with heterosexuals. I truly believe that in 20 or 30 years, they will have equal rights, and people will look back on this issue like we look back on the segregation of schools - as utterly ridiculous and unimaginable.

Answer 4

In this day and age, I don't think that it's going to matter as much as it might have 20 or 50 years ago. Who lives in a perfect nuclear family anymore anyway? What's sad, though, in my opinion, is that I think she should be able to be legally considered a parent. Are you certain that she can't? What about adoption? Or do they have to be legally married first? I think gay couples should be able to legally wed. Hopefully some day the laws will catch up with the spiritual evolution taking place in our society. Christians may see it as "moral decay", but I for one, do not agree. I think that love is love. And I think that God sees it that way, too. Our greatest duty as human beings is to honor Him by loving one another...regardless of gender.

Answer 5

In cases where gay couples have a child, whether through in vitro fertilization, a partner of the opposite sex, or adoption, both partners are considered to be legal parents of said child, depending on what state they are living in, if in the U.S., or what laws prevail in a foreign country. Even though gay marriages are banned in most places here, I believe the partners or the single parent can adopt a child, and hence, the adoptive parent and the partner can raise the child as if it were their legal offspring.

Answer 6

You mean Heather isn't aware?

I think this is funny though - first Newt and his sister and now Dick and Mary. I would actually be entertained if I went to Thanksgiving at one of their family's houses.

Answer 7

i'm sure they already know all the legalities.

live and let live. people need to worry about themselves.