For Her...

I have been posting more and more stuff concerning politics. Why is that? The reason is my daughter. So many people don't fully understand the concerns that I have with regards to my little angel. The Bush administration doesn't see that Mark and my relationship is truly valid. If the administration had their way we would be locked away (far away) never to be seen again (such as the "terrorist" in Guantanamo). Now we could have the next generation of Bush called McCain-Palin. This scares me more. The reasons are many, but anyone that knows Mark and I and loves Mikayla should think twice before they decide to vote for McCain. One main reason is that fact that McCain thinks that gay adoption should be illigal and that Mark, Mikayla and myself do not represent "family values"!

In an interview with George Stephanapolous in July 2008, Stephanapolous asked John McCain,"What is your position on gay adoption? You told the New York Times you were against it, even in cases where the children couldn't find another home. But then your staff backtracked a bit. What is your position?"

McCain responded, "My position is, it's not the reason why I'm running for president of the United States. And I think that two parent families are best for America."

Stephanapolous asked, "Well, what do you mean by that, it's not the reason you're running for President of the United States?"

McCain replied, "Because I think -- well, I think that it's -- it is important for us to emphasize family values. But I think it's very important that we understand that we have other challenges, too. I'm running for president of the United States, because I want to help with family values. And I think that family values are important, when we have two parent -- families that are of parents that are the traditional family."

Stephanapolous: "But there are several hundred thousand children in the country who don't have a home. And if a gay couple wants to adopt them, what's wrong with that?"

McCain: "I am for the values that two parent families, the traditional family represents."

Stephanapolous: "So, you're against gay adoption."

McCain: "I am for the values and principles that two parent families represent. And I also do point out that many of these decisions are made by the states, as we all know. And I will do everything I can to encourage adoption, to encourage all of the things that keeps families together, including educational opportunities, including a better economy, job creation. And I'm running for president, because I want to help families in America. And one of my positions is that I believe that family values and family traditions are preserved."

(lesbian life)

Just remember when you vote on November 4th, you are not only deciding the future for yourself. You are deciding the future for her:

Adoption Bill To Die In Utah...

Legislative Bill HB318, which would allow same sex couples to adopt in Utah, may never get to see the light of the legislature floor. Rep. Mark Walker (R-Sandy), believes that if you are successful, in a meaningful relationship, and gay, you should not be allowed to foster or adopt children. "It really just comes down to my belief that gay couples shouldn't be able to adopt children," Walker said. "It's probably 180 degrees from my philosophical beliefs." (Desert Morning News) Now according to the Intermountain Catholic News, there are more than 2,600 kids in foster care. Most are of Hispanic/Latino descent. Every year around 20,000 kids "age out" of the foster care system. This means that they turn 19 and are considered adults.

So with just 8 days left in the legislative session, people like Mark Walker have successfully managed to keep kids that may have been abused, neglected or coming from a separated home and need love, out of loving, caring families because of his beliefs. Now let me clear one thing up. From what I can tell, if you are a "single" gay person then you are fine to foster and adopt, but if you are in that caring loving relationship then you are evil and the legislature doesn't want to send that message to these homeless kids. Why would we want them to see that there are people that care for each other.

Now this plays a bigger part as well when we look at the a situation that happened in 2007 to one family. When I say one family, I mean just that. A women was having problems with a drug related criminal matter so she asked her uncle to take her 4 kids. The kids are aged 11, 6, 2-years, and 10 months old and since the father couldn't take them, she looked to family. This seems like the perfect solution, but there was one problem. He is gay and in a meaningful relationship and has been for more than 5 years. Neither of the couple has any prior criminal record, but the state doesn't like that that they are in a committed relationship (and not married - which is not allowed either).

According to Utah's laws, "to adopt or be a foster parent, you must be legally married - or single - and not cohabiting. It doesn't license foster couples who aren't legally married. In other words, gay Uncle Valdez could foster or adopt if he wasn't in a steady, thriving relationship. (Only) If he was 'single'." (via Pride Parenting) The kids were taken by the court when officials asked the court to remove them. Thank god there was a sensible judge who didn't see any reason that they couldn't stay where they were.

But that still doesn't take care of the bill that will die on the floor of the legislature. In the same article, "Another bill in the House would have extended workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. That bill was sent to interim study after a committee hearing in which some testimony raised concerns about extending rights to gays and lesbians. That bill would have added protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity."

This all makes me sick. So how equal do we feel? I try to tell my family that we live where we live because of all this bullshit in other states. I also remind them that if we lived in Michigan, Florida, Mississippi, or many more, we would not have Mikayla in our family. Now is that OK - NO!

One More Time...

Well we did it. We met with our adoption agency today to hash things out (literally) and talk about starting the process again to see if we can get Mikayla a little brother or sister. We sat down with Dawn, the Executive Director, and went over the problems that we had with Mikayla's finalization (mainly our lawyer - the one they gave us) and talk about what we need to do to go forward. That would include doing a new application, home study, and paying another $11,250. They give seconds a 10% discount.

What is going through my mind you may ask. Well all the questions that all parents have 9and I had with Mikayla), will I be able to handle this. Will I be the best father that this little child can have. How in the hell will we be able to handle another child, Mark full-time work, Mark working on Masters, me with Mikayla, me getting my B.S. and then starting my Masters. How in the hell are we going to do this. Then I think about all the people out there that are bringing up their kids, working three or four jobs just to keep their head above water, and possibly going to school as well and not complaining. So why am I?

I am the happiest than I have ever been in my life. I have a loving husband, a smart and beautiful little girl who (I think) is one of the happiest people on earth, and four little creature that try my nerves sometimes but make me smile. So why am I doing this? Because there are so many kids in our world that need homes and a loving and caring family and I know that Mark and I are able to give any child that love, trust, and care. As some people say - God only give you as much as you can handle. What I say is that the universe will not give me more than my little mind can take.

I can't wait to see what my little mind is able to do next - it has surprised me so far!