Today's edition of why pride is needed

In today's edition of Why we still need pride, we focus of children of gay parents.  What rights and protections do you realize you have everyday with your own children?  Now imagine not knowing what is going to happen at any given moment because you have none of those rights.  That is the reality of being gay and a parent.

The story I read today was of Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs.  These men biologically fathered twins (one boy for each man).  These men want the surrogate's name removed from their child's birth certificate (with her blessing of course) and their spouses named placed on the cert.  They are legally married in Washington D.C, but because Texas has ruled they don't have to legally recognize marriages outside of their state these men are not recognized in the state of their residence.  The problem with this scenario is that they are in a scary legal spot, especially if something were happen to them while they are appealing the courts decision.

I don't think people understand this reality of gay marriage not being legal or recognized.  These men, while the legal father of one of the twins each, are not the legal father of the other.  While they can take steps to make sure their wills are updated, signed, and ready to go if anything were to happen, why should they have to?  Why should they have to take extra steps to ensure that their children can stay together if something were to happen to them?  Not only that, wills can be challenged by the biologically father's family.  And in Texas?  Those grandparents, aunts, or uncles might actually win. 

This is one more reason why we need to remember that pride is important.  Coming out and making sure you fight for your rights is important.  These men should not be worried about their children's future if something were to happen to them.  Very rarely, if ever, do you hear a straight couple talking about the steps they need to take to make sure if the mother dies, the father is able to keep the children together.  Even if those children are adopted OR from a surrogate.  Married parents are the default for the children if one of the spouses died.

This is just one more reason we need to keep fighting the good fight.  This is one more reason we need to keep the conversation going.  Parents don't need to have this worry added to their first few days of their children's lives.  Parents shouldn't have to make sure that their wills are updated the minute their children are born.  Instead of loving on their child every minute when they bring them home, the new parents have to worry that nothing happens to them between the time the child is born and the time they can get to the lawyers to fill out their new wills.  It's shameful in America.


Please remember that marriage about so much more than love.  Marriage is about protecting families.  Support marriage equality for all.

Until Next Time.