At first I wondered why Jacqueline Taylor was spending so much time discussing and examining weddings in her childhood. First off weddings are far from interesting to me and honestly her childhood did not interest me either. She went on to tell of her 2 first failed marriages and then she dropped the bomb when she said, “ I have a heart that yearns towards women.” This is where her article finally started getting direction to me. She goes on to tell of her new partner and their relationship and it’s strength. She mentions how even though their relationship was committed and strong and real it was not recognized by law. Jacqueline goes on to tell of the ceremony she and Carol had where they invited all their closest friends to and had a wedding of sorts of their own (without the legalizing documents).
Where her story really gets interesting is with the adoption of their daughters. As the law won’t recognize their relationship it would not recognize them adopting the same child so they each adopted one and parent them together. From inside they are all the family that any heterosexual couple with children are but from the standing of the law they are 2 separate single mothers who happen to live in the same place. But ask their daughters and they are all family they are all related. The judge learned that and the community they lived in for the most part accepted it. I was encouraged that for the most part the non-traditional family was accepted in the community. This couple was not because of their sexual orientation was no less equip to raise a family than many other, in fact Carol and Jacqueline are better off raising a family than many straight couple who marriage is under strain are.
One thing that she mentions that I believe would be the hardest part about their family is the lack of understanding of many people who don’t understand. And more so than the comments to the mothers would be the comments that their children may face. As she mentioned children don’t understand homophobia and their children see their family as real so why would they have to face all of the prejudices and questions from those that simply don’t like what they don’t understand. This is where Jacqueline mentions she started educating the public about their family and never hiding it when they were going to a new school or church or other common group. I believe this may be an important part to stop the prejudices that arise from same sex couples.
What comparisons can you make to this and the civil rights movement of Blacks in the 60’s?
Is it just a matter of time until same-sex marriage is an accepted part of life or is it going to be a continuous struggle?
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