There are things that happen in our society that I hope will change.
I hope they will more than change.
I hope that one day, when our kids, or maybe it will have to be our grandchildren… when they go to school they will read about this time in the history books and not believe life was ever this way.
That laws dictated whom you could marry.
That anyone would give a second glance to a couple in love.
And that the government would decide to take apart a family, because someone decided their commitment to each other was not one to be honored.
My sweet friend who blogs at Our Simple Lives is in the middle of this horror story right now.
His partner, whom he has been with for 22 years, whom he has adopted four children with, is facing deportation. His visa has expired and their Californian marriage is not enough to keep him in the United States.
Can you imagine?
I can’t.
CNN covered their story over the weekend and I have a favor to ask…
now that you have watched this news clip and fallen in love with their family, just as I have, take a moment to write or call on their behalf:
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. 393 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-6324 Toll Free: (866) 802-2833 Fax: (202) 228-0604 On twitter @senbobcasey Link to Senator Casey’s contact form Secretary Janet Napolitano Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 202-282-8000Maybe one day our kids will be learning about Mark and Fred in their history books as being the men who changed laws that never should have been.
And we can say we knew them when and took five minutes to help them with their fight.
I hope so.
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There isn’t much I could do about the US deportation laws from outside the US. But is there anything I could do to help the family?
“Laws that never should have been.”
Exactly. I have never and will never understand why the government can’t and won’t recognize gay marriage as being any less valid than a marriage between two heterosexuals. If two people share love, commitment, and respect – the very cornerstones of marriage – then they should allow to be married. Period.
I hope so too. Thank you for sharing their story – I had not read about it. Take care.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s really messed up that so many people think it’s okay for teenagers to have unwanted babies, but not for two loving people to take care of kids who didn’t have a home.
This sickens me to the core. I can’t believe that this family is going to be torn apart because of the social injustice. Marriage is not a heterosexual privilege its a human right, to love who you want to love and for your love to be recognized. I hope you don’t mind I’ll be sharing this story on my fb page, something has to be done. I only received my Citizenship last year, I know the value of living an honest life and contributing to society of a country that you call home, I can’t even imagine being in the position where that is all ripped from you.
Please share, truly appreciate you spreading the word. Thank you so much.
My heart breaks for them.
4 sweet children were lucky enough to be placed in a loving, stable home and the government wants to tear it apart. There has to be a better way.
My thoughts exactly.
That a family may be broken up because of bigoted bureaucracy truly sickens me.
Could not agree more.
Thank you for posting this! I tweeted to Sen. Casey. Love and blessings to your friends. They are a beautiful family.
Yes, I hope that One Day (as mentioned in your lovely post) our children will look at the Defense of Marriage Act the same way we look at the Jim Crow Laws.
Thank you for sharing this story. I pray for a happy ending for them, and for all families who are discriminated against.
It infuriates me that in 2012, in THIS country that this could even happen. Thank you for sharing this story and a way for people to help.
They look so sweet! Such an adorable family… It’s a shame that the states doesn’t recognize them as a family.
How heartbreaking. What a horrible injustice. Thoughts and prayers and phone calls with this beautiful family.
Oh, this just breaks my heart 🙁 I absolutely ADORE Mark and have come to love his family through his beautiful blog, pictures, and words.
That family has so much love… it’s disgusting, cruel, and unimaginable to think any law in this country would try to break them up. I’m making calls/writing on their behalf now. Thanks for posting this, Jessica. XOXO
Wonderful post. Infuriating story.
Love this family. What an amazing last photo that is. I will do what I can to help. Together, we can make change.
Love Mark!
Love his family!
AND I would do anything to help them!
YOU BET!
This is absolutely heartbreaking. It disgusts me that we still live in a country that doesn’t recognize ALL families and ALL marriages between consenting adults.
I have no words to express my sadness about this – that there is a contingency (unfortunately a financially well-supported and extremely organized & active one) in our country that lobbies so hard against marriage equality.
(Not to mention, intolerance against immigrants.)
It is unconscionable. I have tweeted this post and shared their story on Facebook. I hope to someday be able to say I was a part of change.
Thank you for helping me have that opportunity…
Such a beautiful family. It breaks my heart to think that is even a possibility. I will work on a letter this afternoon. You are a wonderful friend to them, Jessica. I hope this all goes well.
Amazing story. I’m so glad you shared this!!
An amazing story! Will definitely keep them in my prayers. Such a beautiful family.
I would have never known about this, nor would so many others without you’re spreading the word! This is so sad and sickening! Calling today!
It’s incredible how much our country has changed and then again how much it hasn’t.
I feel so bad for this family… I will do what I can to help them stay together. There is no reason to split them up like this.
Stuff like this just simply blows my mind. Thanks for sharing this story. I know people personally who have abused the system to get an almost-stranger to be able to stay. But being kicked out after 22 years? Those poor children. Its sickening.
Just wrote to Senator Casey. Thanks for sharing the info.
This just breaks my heart. It disgusts me that this man, who built and is raising a beautiful family, who contributes to society, who is in a marriage that is undeniably full of love, can’t stay in the US.
When is the US going to wake up?
It doesn’t matter who you fall in love with. Love is love. Everyone should have a right to that. Everyone should have the right to marriage. Everyone should have the right to have that marriage recognized.
Do Canadian letters count?
Of course Canadian letters count.
I read about this last week – so very ridiculous and unfair. Tweeting, writing, would love to assist in any way. Hat tip to you for spreading the word & doing what you can do to help.
Jessica, I feel as if my “Thank You(s)”, that I’ve been passing out constantly over the past week, aren’t good enough anymore. I wish there were better words to show how much I appreciate what you have just done.
By spreading the word to the masses, you are not only helping our Family, but 38,000 Families just like us. For better or for worse, we are just the face of this group.
To your Readers and Friends, the only thing that you can do at this point is to write to those offices above. Senator Casey’s office knows of our situation. The more publicity that our situation gets, the harder it would be for the Government to do what it’s planning on doing. The best we can hope for is that they don’t make a decision until DOMA is decided in the Supreme Court in a couple of years. I am hopeful that that’s what they will do.
And just so you know, Fred is completely legal in this country and has played by the rules for decades. I just wanted you all to be confident that you weren’t backing someone who has committed a crime.
Jessica, thanks again for this and for all the support of your Friends. It means a lot. Sorry for the rambling. I usually only posts these long comments after a few glasses of Merlot. But at 6:45a.m. I only have coffee in me.
Thank you!
Your Friend, m.
As I’ve said over and over, I wish there was more I could do. And with all you’ve been through, Merlot is perfectly acceptable at 7 am ;).
It makes me so sad that they have to go through all of this! I hope that our letters make a difference.
What else can we do, Jess?
I watched the CNN report again. What does Mark suggest we do????
He said the best thing we can do is write letters and contact these offices. The more their story is heard the harder it will be for them to ignore.
You make me proud to know you.
You did it, sister.
I will do everything I can.
This makes me so angry! Yes, I will write.
Thank you so much. Could you send me your blog address? Whenever I click on your name to visit I get an error.
This breaks my heart. And yes, I too hope one day this will be inconceivable.
Perfectly done, dear friend. Will be following your lead on Tuesday.
xo
I will write tonight and spread the word as much as I possibly can. This breaks my heart.
Truly appreciate it Brittany.
It is neither right or just that in America things like this should be happening. I for one will do everything
I can for Mark and Fred, they deserve to keep their family together here in the US.
Thank you so much Jen.
Yes, we can all do this. This is so very upsetting on so many levels. To tear a family apart….I’m so saddened by this.
I can’t stop thinking about it Katie, it just amazes me that this could happen to them.
I can do this. Thanks for making the contact information so easy to find 🙂
Thank you SO much Angela, I appreciate it and I know they do too.