Comments on: Fight & Flight for Our Families

By: Bacchus2530

Bacchus2530 — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 19:06:53 +0000

While we aren’t refugees from Ohio, as we moved away from there years before they enacted these hateful laws. These laws now keep us from moving back and potentially even from visiting once we have a child. As in Virginia these laws have not been tested and as widely written as the Ohio law is it very possibly could affect a 2 parent adoption.

It is sad to not be able to return home, whether you want to or not.

By: aj

aj — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 17:41:58 +0000

Hi,

Been following and reading your blog almost religiously. Can i just say how thankful i am living in Canada as a gay man? I cannot imagine the fear that some may have as a result of laws such as this being enacted. Although I cannot speak for all gays in Canada, I can say that my fear is having a new federal government that wants to revisit the Same Sex Marriage Act (we have an election in January) and thereby complicate things legally here.

I just want to say that I hope that no one forgets that although battles may be lost, it is just a temporary set back. The war for equal rights will be won through the strength of one individual and one community.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:30:02 +0000

For every family of "refugees" that had the resources to move to relatively friendlier horizons, there are several families who don’t have the resources to move; unprotected and unable to go anywhere. So, what happens to them?

They get screwed, of course. That’s the conservative American way.

By: Terrance

Terrance — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 01:21:14 +0000

True. Given the possible consequences of staying, I can’t blame anyone for pulling up stakes. If the other option means possibly losing a home or being separated from a loved-one in their last moments, I can’t blame anyone for not taking that chance if they don’t have to.

However, there’s something else worth remember, which occured to me when the story got sent around on an email listserve for GLBT people of color here in Maryland. For every family of "refugees" that had the resources to move to relatively friendlier horizons, there are several families who don’t have the resources to move; unprotected and unable to go anywhere. So, what happens to them?

By: trey

trey — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:32:14 +0000

Interesting, we were just joking of the ‘refugees’ at a Mamas and Papas (gay parent group).

We keep noticing new GLBT families, more than we remember from any year since we moved here in 1997, even than last year, families from Ohio, Utah, Georgia.

Maybe it’s perception, definitely anecdotal, but it does seem that more and more gay families (and individuals) are fleeing the deep crimson red states as they pass more and more hostile laws.

Part of me wish they wouldn’t, that’d they stay and make the state better…. but I know I would leave.. so I understand completely why they do.