Dykes and tykes: a virtual lesbian parenting community

This article is a collaborative project by six members of an Internet community of lesbian mothers called MOMS. MOMS is a diverse community of lesbian mothers that is inclusive of bisexual and transgender women, as well those planning to become parents. The article outlines the history of the group and how the moderators have created an environment that encourages diversity. Members of the MOMS community differ in age, race, ethnicity, and nationality, as well as political, religious, and social expressions. Additionally, they became parents in diverse ways and parent children in distinct and often disparate styles. Nonetheless, MOMS is a high-volume list with a large membership that remains a close-knit and intimate discussion group. This article outlines some of the discussion topics common on the MOMS list. Some of these are particular to parenting, and others involve a broad spectrum of subjects including racism, butch/femme dynamics, vegetarianism, circumcision, breast versus bottle feeding, and transgender politics. To subscribe to the MOMS list, send an e-mail message to majordomo@groups.queernet.org. Write "subscribe moms" in the body of the e-mail, without quotation marks.