Some Christians THESE Parents Are!
What a travesty!
Indianapolis Star:
Brett Conrad spent more than half his life as Patrick Atkins’ partner. For 25 years, the men shared bank accounts, apartments and eventually a home in Fishers.
But when Atkins, 47, fell seriously ill in 2005, Conrad faced what many gay Hoosiers consider a travesty: no law guaranteeing them the same rights as married couples to participate in care decisions for their ill partners.
Conrad, 47, spent much of the past two years trying to win guardianship of Atkins from Atkins’ parents, Thomas and Jeanne of Carmel. Jeanne Atkins is quoted in court documents as saying she believes homosexuality is a sin and that she disapproves of the men’s relationship. The parents have barred Conrad from visiting their now-disabled son in their home where he lives.
7 Responses to “Some Christians THESE Parents Are!”
That anybody could see that scenario as right and good is totally unbelievable to me.
That someone would have so little respect for their son as to tear him away from the partner he chose when he is too weak to defend himself is sickening to me.
In my book those parents are no better than the ones who marry their teenage daughters to men they have never met without consulting them.
I think such stories are important in the gay marriage debate. On the no-legal-marriage side, proponents often talk about the undefined but theoretically possible problems caused by same sex marriage, while either ignoring or being competely unaware that without marriage, there are problems right now. Not allowing marriage between same sex couples is causing harm that is neither undefined nor just theoretically possible already, today.
This is indeed a tragedy, and an unjust situation. However, believing that does not compel one to politically favor “gay marriage.” There are many steps short of full-blown marriage which could be taken, both within the law and by private agreement between the parties, to address many of these practical problems.
I agree with pacatrue, though, that these stories are an important component of the debate, and as a tactical matter, they will resonate with the public much more readily than the shrill denunciations which are more often heard in that debate.
Culture, religon, and law. This post has it all. If I were and older(or even younger) gay couple I would definitely have made legal provisions for this circumstance. And if I were the disapproving parent of a gay man I’d try and not be so utterly disrespectful of my successful child’s obvious wishes.
Parents like these being a reality to reckon with, this story should be a warning to gay couples about how important it is to arm oneself with wills, powers of attorney and living wills in order to geive themselves and their partners a fighting chance in critical circumstances.
It’s also a good idea for hereto couples as erll as single people.. Anyone’s family can become problematic when it counts most.
Here’s the most important part from the article:
Even my wife and I have POA’s set up for various situations, living wills, current wills etc. It’s sad what the parents are doing, but it’s even sadder it was preventable.
PatHMV, what you say is something I learned as well in my own debates on gay marriage. Hopefully I was not shrill, but I used to take a tact (as a supporter of same sex marriage) related to the roles of government, the various components of the marriage contract, legal equality, etc. None of this seemed to ever really sway anyone. And my last bit was about issues such as this, and that was the first time my debate “opponents” seemed to think I had made a decent point worth considering. As always, us rational beings are most moved by human stories than by technical discriminations.