Mary Cheney, 38, gave birth to 8 lbs., 6 oz. Samuel David Cheney, at 9:46 on the morning of May 23. It is the first child for Cheney and Heather Poe, her partner of 15 years. They have declared the pregnancy and birth a private matter and have declined to answer questions about it.
It is the sixth grandchild for Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynn, and the first to carry the Cheney surname. The White House released an official photo of Dick and Lynn with the infant, but none of the two parents. It was the same photo approach and caption information that was used when the veep became a grandpa in 2004 and 2006.
Much has been made of the fact that Mary and Heather reside in Great Falls, Va., a bucolic Washington suburb up the Potomac River, where lesbians have no legal protection for their families.
The birth did not occur in several nearby Virginia hospitals, but rather at Sibley Hospital in D.C.
Mary has played a prominent role in her father's political life, from campaigning as a child through managing his reelection effort in 2004. She also made a controversial name for herself in marketing Coors beer to the gay community, and currently works as a marketing executive for America Online.
'We join the community of American families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents in congratulating Mary Cheney and Heather Poe on the birth of their son, Samuel David Cheney,' said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Pride. 'Vice President Cheney's newborn grandson and his two mothers put yet another face on our families for the American public. We wish the family the best and will continue our efforts to advocate for full equality for all American families.'
The anti-gay right was markedly restrained in commenting on the birth.
However, conservative Peter LaBarbera noted a 'touch of sadness' in the event. 'While we celebrate life, we cannot celebrate homosexual parenting—which involves intentionally denying a child either a mom or a dad.' The president of Americans for Truth said that Samuel needs a man in his life.
'The pro-'gay' media have an odd way of reporting stories like this, as if both Mary Cheney and Heather Poe were involved in the baby's conception. ... And yet, the truth remains: two homosexuals cannot create a baby. Heterosexuality—the people that radicals in the early days of "gay liberation" derided as "breeders"—must be involved.'
