Gay Parent Magazine Blog

Now available, our July-August 2026 issue #167

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July-August 2026 issue #167 content:

Cover story: The Hurtubise Family Sets Sail - Gary Hurtubise and his husband Trevor were both ex-navy and enjoyed sailing prior to becoming parents. Recently the couple bought a boat, hoping their two teenage sons would also experience a love of the sea.

I set a grease fire but my kids remember the marshmallows - Single parent, Aj, recounts the trials and tribulations of camping for the first time with their two young children. Aj writes, "When I returned and opened the lid, the whole thing–bacon, grease, and tinfoil—was in flames. I dropped the lid and turned off the gas so I could run for the fire extinguisher. With it in hand, I returned to the grill and pulled the pin, dousing the flames and our charred breakfast. Once it was out, I put on my best smile and explained my ‘whoopsie’, assuring my kids that everything was fine.

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT - The Village Law Firm - Protecting Your Family in Uncertain Times - 'In the current political and legal landscape, protecting your family requires more than just a marriage license. It requires deliberate planning and a private legal firewall.'

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT - Miracle Surrogacy - Miracle Surrogacy is a U.S.-based agency with operations throughout Mexico. It combines the professionalism and support of a U.S. agency with the affordability and accessibility of Mexico.

“Things don’t have to be perfect to become a good memory, and I had forgotten that my initial objective wasn’t to check off all the boxes. It was to give them a basic, beginner camping experience.

And that had been successful. We went into nature. We cooked on the grill. We made s’mores. We slept under the stars. We went home.”

Author: AJ

Article: I Set a Grease Fire but My Kids Remember the Marshmallows

Free July-August Issue of Gay Parent Magazine: https://bit.ly/43HGKO8

Find more family stories, and LGBTQ friendly resources for building and nurturing your family on our website www.gayparentmag.com

The Ortego family was featured in ourJanuary-February 2024 issue #152. Photo courtesy of Christa Ortego. We like hearing from our audience. Send us your feature requests, photos, and comments by email at [email protected]

“For many intended parents, the dream of having a child can feel painfully out of reach.

At Miracle Surrogacy, we believe becoming a parent should not be reserved for the ultra-wealthy. That belief is exactly why Miracle Surrogacy was created.”

Article: Advertiser Spotlight: Build Your Family with Miracle Surrogacy

Free July-August Issue: https://bit.ly/43HGKO8

“It felt to us like ‘raising-kids’ wasn’t what we were doing anymore; we’d arrived at the ‘guiding-young-men’ phase of parenting.

Parents already familiar with life-with-teenagers know this phase brings its own set of challenges, but it also comes with a nice perk: time again to hang out with your partner.”

Author: Gary Hurtubise

Article: The Hurtubise Family Sets Sail

Free July-August Issue: https://bit.ly/43HGKO8

Find more family stories, and LGBTQ friendly resources for building and nurturing your family on our website www.gayparentmag.com

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#lgbtqcommunity #america #4thofJuly

The queer patrons at Stonewall fought back; they forced the police to barricade themselves back into the bar itself, needing to call for back up. All this happened the last Saturday in June, 28, 1969. The fight went on for six nights in total, and since then has been remembered every June.

Taking this tour with my Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) was a valuable learning experience not just for my students but for myself as well.

Author: Ali Rothlizzi Title: Walking Tour of Christopher Street with my GSA

The free Annual Gay Parent Magazine-New York 2026-2027 is available here: https://bit.ly/3QIKR9b 

“She called us Dada and Daddy,” Rick recalls. “We taught her how to talk, how to express herself, and most importantly how to feel safe.”

“We knew it was coming, but nothing prepares you for that level of pain,” Raphael says. “Still, we would do it all over again, despite the heartbreak.”

Author: Dane Miller Title: A Blueprint for Love - Rick and Raphael’s journey to parenthood

The free Annual Gay Parent Magazine-New York 2026-2027 is available here: https://bit.ly/3QIKR9b 

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, up to 95% of kids ages 13-17 report using some form of social media, and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” In the U.S., the required minimum age for most social media platforms is 13, but 40% of children ages 8-12 are using social media anyway.

This is alarming when you consider that social media is twice as addictive for kids as it is for adults (and we know how addictive it is for us!). That’s because an adult brain has a more developed prefrontal cortex, which regulates our emotional responses to rewards. Brain development starts at ages 10-13 until the mid-twenties.

Author: Renée J. Lukas Title: Parenting in the Age of Technology: How to Stay Connected to Each Other When Devices are Always Beckoning Free Gay Parent Magazine May-June Issue: https://bit.ly/4cqZPbe

Celebrating every queer dad, trans father, non-binary parent, and every man who chose love and presence over silence—you are the blueprint. Happy Father's Day!

here: bit.ly/4cqZPbe

@nycninjaacademy bit.ly/3QIKR9b

Gay Parent Magazine Family photo share from Richardo Jackson!

We love to hear from you. Send us your feature requests, photos, and comments by email at gayparentmag@gmail or DM through Gay Parent Magazine.

Running my school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is complicated. We usually announce movie days or talking topics such as, does pan seem like the new queer identity? In any case, I do my best to be there for kids who haven’t found their tribe yet. Since it’s a small school, it’s really mostly about being out and available at specific moments and for students with the highest need.

It’s sad there are still parents who don’t accept when their kids come out of the closet as LGBT.

Author: Ali Rothlizzi Title: Walking Tour of Christopher Street with my GSA

The free Annual Gay Parent Magazine-New York 2026-2027 is available here: https://bit.ly/3QIKR9b 

Photo: The author Ali Rothlizzi with Rob Kappel of LGBT Network

Start early. When kids are young, use parental controls on their phones when you determine when they should have one. Set limits. Homework, dinner, gaming. Establish some kind of routine that’s non-negotiable. Real life shouldn’t be eclipsed by games and phones.

Start family game nights (card and board games) or some shared activity that doesn’t involve a phone or gaming device. Any activity that brings everyone together, interacting in real life, helps create a balance.

Author: Renée J. Lukas Title: Parenting in the Age of Technology: How to Stay Connected to Each Other When Devices are Always Beckoning Free Gay Parent Magazine May-June Issue: https://bit.ly/4cqZPbe