Mary Cheney & Partner Expecting Baby No. 2

Mary Cheney, the former vice president’s daughter, and her long-time partner, Heather Poe, are expecting their second child in mid- to late November, a source close to the family confirms.

Cheney, a lesbian, attracted much attention from the conservative movement when she announced her first pregnancy in late 2006. Social conservative and founder of Focus on the Family, James Dobson, penned a controversial op-ed for Time magazine called “Two Mommies Is One Too Many,” regarding Cheney’s decision to start a family:

With all due respect to Cheney and her partner, Heather Poe, the majority of more than 30 years of social-science evidence indicates that children do best on every measure of well-being when raised by their married mother and father. That is not to say Cheney and Poe will not love their child. But love alone is not enough to guarantee healthy growth and development. The two most loving women in the world cannot provide a daddy for a little boy–any more than the two most loving men can be complete role models for a little girl."

Cheney has remained a conservative voice and supporter of her father’s campaigns, although did not publicly address the Bush Administration’s Federal Marriage Amendment to the chagrin of gay rights groups.

Mary and Heather are already parents to 2-year-old son, Samuel David Cheney.

Congratulations to the Cheney-Poe family!