Caleb’s Music Video

Oct 28th, 2010 03:06 AM By Diane

12 yr old Caleb, son of lesbian moms, wrote a song & dedicated to the teens who recently committed suicide. Please watch & share:

I am the Strong Women I am Today Because of my 2 Moms!

Oct 28th, 2010 02:30 AM By jennifer

My government class in high school (2000-2001) required a group discussion every Friday. The list of topics to go with these group discussions was given to us at the beginning of the school year. As I looked down the list, I came across a topic that I would come to dread all the way up until the Friday it was to be discussed in class. That topic was – “Should gay and lesbian people be able to have and/or raise children”. This was a touchy topic for me because I was being raised by a lesbian couple; my biological mom and her wife (of now 23 yrs!).

They had raised me together since I was 3 years old, with love, security, and above all acceptance for all. I am the women I am today because of them and I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I was in elementary school I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world because I had 2 moms, I was special, even all my friends thought I was lucky! I still felt that way in high school, but because kids, especially teenagers, are so cruel, telling everyone I had 2 moms got a much more different reaction in high school than it did in elementary. So for the most part, I kept that fact to myself. I didn’t keep it quiet because I was ashamed, but because I didn’t want to be judged, bullied, made fun of, outcast and so on. Only a select few of my friends, that I knew were accepting, knew about my 2 moms. And that is so sad by the way to have to keep secret the reason for why I am who I am!
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I am Truly Blessed!!!

Oct 27th, 2010 03:44 AM By Jody

August 2008 I met the love of my life–sweet Melissa–she is the love of my life and my eternity. I am blessed that she has allowed me to share her children and grandchildren. This is a true blessing and I am so thankful for her love and all that she is in my life.

She allows me to be a pivotal part in her family…we are truly a large and funny family that never stops laughing. We have been through rough times as well–but we maintain and go forward.

Myself and Melissa would like to thank all of you for WE GIVE A DAMN!!

WE GIVE A DAMN ALSO-Jody, Melissa, Chris, Jenni, Scott, Jacob,Amber, Dylan and baby Layla!!!!

The Love of my Life

Oct 15th, 2010 02:12 PM By Tammye

In two days, I will celebrate my 50th birthday. For the last nine-and-a-half years, I have had the good fortune to share my life with a beautiful woman that I love with all my heart, and with our two sons (her biological children that I was lucky enough to inherit as my own). Four-and-a-half years ago, my wife and I were married in a church ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas where we live.

Our marriage is not legal: there are hundreds of rights, responsibilities and benefits that we are not allowed access to. But it is no less a marriage than any other. A legal document does not control our love for one another nor our life together, but we deserve the protections that come with that piece of paper. Someday, I believe, we will have that. But only because we give a damn, and because other people give a damn and are willing to stand with us in our fight for equality.

FIRST GAY COUPLE FILES TO ADOPT IN FLORIDA

Oct 14th, 2010 03:35 PM By Admin

According to CNN:

“A lesbian couple have applied to adopt a child after Florida’s child advocacy agency announced it won’t fight a court ruling that found the state’s ban on such adoptions unconstitutional.

“Jennifer Haseman and Hillary Jovi, who were unaware of Tuesday’s announcement by the state, called Family Services of Metro Orlando, central Florida’s child protective contractor, to begin the process of adoption.

“The couple believed they could make their dream a reality after a September decision by the Third District Court of Appeal that lifted Florida’s three-decade ban on gay adoption.

“‘We’ve wanted to adopt ever since we discussed wanting a family,’ said Jovi, who said she has had a 12-year relationship with Haseman. ‘We always wanted to have our own children and adopt.’

“The Florida Department of Children and Families said any appeal by the state agency was likely to be unsuccessful following opinions from the appeal court and a circuit court judge in Miami, Florida. Gov. Charlie Crist ordered the department to stop enforcing the ban after the circuit court ruling.”

“…’We are happy to hear that DCF wants to bring this case to an end…,’ said Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida executive director.

“But, the director says, the case is not yet final.”

“‘What is needed now is a similar statement from Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum that will formally end this case and allow judges to decide — on a case-by-case basis — what is in the best interests of children.’

“Ryan Wiggins, spokeswoman for McCollum, said, ‘We appreciate the announcement, and look forward to a conversation with DCF about what the next actions will be.’

“The attorney general office has until October 22 to file an appeal.”

“Florida was the only remaining state to prohibit gay adoption. The state agency said Wednesday it has removed from adoption forms the question about an applicant’s sexual orientation.”

Read the full CNN story >>

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FLORIDA DCF WILL NOT APPEAL RULING OVERTURNING GAY ADOPTION BAN

Oct 12th, 2010 05:25 PM By Admin

According to The Miami Herald:

“Florida child welfare administrators will not appeal last month’s ruling that tossed out Florida’s controversial gay-adoption law.

“George Sheldon, secretary of the Department of Children & Families, announced Tuesday his agency will not appeal a ruling by the Third District Court of Appeal that declared the 33-year-old law unconstitutional. The ruling involved two former foster children adopted by Frank Martin Gill, an openly gay North Miami man who took custody of the boys under DCF’s authorization.

“‘It’s clear that the District Court of Appeal decision is of statewide application, and it will be binding on all trial courts across the state,’ Sheldon said.

“As of last week, the state had exhausted the time to challenge the Gill adoption, and so, regardless of the law’s status, the two children will remain Gill’s adoptive children, Sheldon said.

“Sheldon said he had discussed the case with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum as early as Tuesday morning, and informed the state’s top law enforcer of his decision. He said he does not know whether McCollum will choose to exercise his authority to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court in defense of the state statute.”

Read the full The Miami Herald story >>

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Lucky Partnership

Oct 12th, 2010 02:51 PM By Sally

I am 67 years old. When I first started to come out most gay and lesbian people didn’t even admit to their real names, where they worked, or where they lived because of fear that they would be “outed.” Back then being “outed” amounted to personal suicide.

You would lose your job, your home, and possibly your family. This was all pretty much taken for granted as just the “way things were”.

At the time I was married to a man. I remained married for 18 years, had one daughter, and tried very hard to be what society said I should be.

In 1978 I met “the love of my life”. I had had several flings but nothing really serious until I met Debbie. When we met, I was still married and she had been married (to a man, no children) for 7 years.

Within 2 years we were both divorced and living together. We married ourselves (not legally of course) at a beautiful spot in the mountains near our home.
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Don’t Ask We’ll Find Out!

Oct 12th, 2010 12:33 PM By donny

I was in the Navy during the dessert storm war. I was stationed on a submarine tender called The USS Dixon AS 37 as a ships serviceman. I was three years in to my four year enlistment. I was also recently divorced from my wife as I had just come out to myself as a gay man. This process took years as I was raised southern Baptist in Ohio. In my naivety I shared with shipmates, who I thought I could trust, about guys I had dated and one of these people whom I trusted reported me to the Military Police.

Soon thereafter all my co workers were interrogated and questioned about what they knew about me. Within a few days they boarded my ship and in front of everyone, I was handcuffed, read my rights and arrested for suspicion of sodomy! I was taken to base security and interrogated. I quickly learned that whomever it was that turned me in was someone I had trusted with intimate details of sexual experiences. It was the most humiliating/infuriating moment of my life.

I was being asked to put my life on the line for my country and simultaneously was being told in no uncertain terms that I was a 2nd class citizen of this country. Charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence; only after I was followed by military personnel in unmarked cars for 6 months! Ever since that experience I have NEVER BEEN more proud to be a queer man, and I teach my children who I have adopted the importance of self discovery and diversity EVERY DAY

DADT: Unjust & Unfair

Oct 12th, 2010 12:29 PM By Aaron

I have been with my partner for three years now. He is a wonderful man and I love him with all of my heart. We live together and often dream of the day we can be married, adopt children, and raise a family.

My partner has been serving in the military for nearly 10 years and it frustrates me to no end that he is forced to lie about who he is in order to keep his position. He is a quiet man and would never try to rub his sexuality in anyone’s face, but simply mentioning the fact that I exist would strip him of years of dedication and hard work serving our nation. The military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy has forced me to become his secret, and this is so damaging. It fosters feelings of shame and secrecy that hurt us both on deep levels.

My partner must pretend to be straight. He cannot have a picture of me on his desk. He is reluctant and fearful to go out with me on the military base to grocery shop or get dinner, because if we were to run in to someone he knows, he would have to lie about who I am.

If we were a heterosexual couple, and we were married, he would be entitled to provide me, as his spouse, with medical insurance, higher education tuition reimbursement, and a whole host of other benefits. He works just as hard as his heterosexual colleagues, but is refused the same benefits that they enjoy.

In instances where military members are injured or killed, the military prides itself on how it pulls together and help the family of those left behind. They claim they look out for each other, especially in times of need. But if, God forbid, something like that was to happen to my partner, none of that support would be available to me.

My partner works to protect and serve this country. He deserves the respect that comes with equal treatment. This equality is at the very heart of the great nation he serves.

My “Sophie’s Choice”

Oct 12th, 2010 09:35 AM By melanie

During January of 2002, I went into an online chat room for the first time ever and developed a friendship with a woman from Israel. Coincidentally she was soon to arrive in the USA to study at a University in Texas. I invited her to stop in California, en route, so we could meet and soon I realized that this was the person with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life.

Our relationship flourished while Dor was studying in Texas and soon she transferred to a college near my home in Marin County; and so we moved in together and married as soon as it was legal for us to do so. At the time, my daughter, HC, from my previous relationship was five years of age. Dor and HC developed a close relationship and they could not have loved each other more.

We were able to change Dor’s student Visa to a very limited R1 Visa. Notwithstanding the fact that California recognized our domestic partnership and subsequent marriage, I, the US citizen, could not sponsor Dor in the same way as a different gender couple could.

Dorit taught Jewish religious studies, Hebrew and Bible at a local congregation, and was qualified for the Religious worker’s Visa. We were luckier than many others in the same-sex bi-national community because we had found a way, albeit expensive and fraught with difficulties.
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