Colloquy between MassNews and Julie Goodridge

By Geraldine Hawkins
March 14, 2003

After the hearing in front of the SJC, MassNews asked Julie Goodridge about her daughter, Annie.

"Is she adopted?"

"No, I gave birth to her."

"Do you ever worry that she will grow up thinking that men are a bad thing, or at the very least, that men are unnecessary?"

"No," said Goodridge, "it doesn't worry me."

At this point, Hillary walked over. "MassNews," Julie whispered to her.

"We have lots of men in our lives and family members who are men," said Julie. "If you met Annie, you would see that she is a perfectly loving, intelligent child."

Hillary and Julie had been a couple for a some time when they decided to have a child. They took the name "Goodridge" because it was Hillary's godmother's maiden name. They are Unitarians.

Heidi Norton and Gina Smith have two sons, neither of whom is adopted. The boys have the surname Nortonsmith.

MassNews asked Norton and Smith if they make an effort to expose the boys to positive male role models.

"We do consider positive male role models," said Norton. "Also positive African-American role models, positive disabled role models - the whole diversity of the human species! We surround them with loving, uplifting people - grandparents, aunts, uncles. We have a loving, supportive extended family."

Norton and Smith met in law school. They are both Quakers.