| Linda Falstein, 58, and Julie Schneider, 55
They will be together 23 years this April and hope to get married on May 17.
Gilman Square residents, Linda is a retired teacher and Julie is a psychotherapist. They have waited a long time for equal rights and a same-sex marriage law they feel very strongly about. All they have so far is a certificate that has no legal bearing from a gay rights march in Washington, D.C., in the early 1990s.
They have suffered the disadvantages of being a couple and not being recognized as one many times.
"When I was still working, Julie could've shared my health benefits. When I retired, my pension plan could have included her. We weren't able to do all that," said Linda, explaining why the same-sex legal marriage would mean a lot to them.
"It's about being assured, having access to one another in a health crisis and not being at the whim of some bureaucrat in the hospital," Linda added.
When Linda needed a bone marrow transfer for breast cancer, the couple were lucky to have doctors and staff who were not homophobic and recognized their support for each other. But they worry that doctors often do not acknowledge a gay couple's rights like they do for a parent and child or a heterosexual husband and wife.
"When one of us has a parent who is old and sick and we have to get air tickets to visit, we have to misrepresent ourselves as cousins for [authorities] to recognize a serious family emergency," added Linda. "The word 'spouse' means something. In times of crisis we'd be recognized, at a time of health crisis that's clearly what [a same-sex marriage law] would mean to us."
David Wiinikka, 37, and Joseph Lydon, 28
On their second date, David asked Joe where he wanted to go and Joe said somewhere with trees. David suggested a long drive so they could get to know more about each other. They ended up two states away in Ogunquit, Maine, where romance brewed. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Originally from New Jersey, Joe graduated from Harvard Divinity School last June and works at a local human rights organization. He is also a writer and has worked abroad in Kenya, Turkey and Bosnia.
David is originally from Worcester. He is an artist and works as a graphic designer at NECN.
They met in the Boston Gay Men's Chorus and again at a friend's party and knew there was something special soon after the second date.
"To this day, the Ogunquit area, which was a family vacation destination for David when he was younger, is an incredibly special place for both of us," Joe admitted.
Joe, who has already lost most of his family, feels lucky to have found a new one. They are both much loved and feel blessed at having so many friends and an accepting family.
Together for about two years, they plan to live in eastern Massachusetts, after marrying later in the year. "We made our wedding plans before the SJC voted!" grinned Joe.
At this point, the only challenges they said they have faced is been the determination of those who want withhold same-sex marriage rights and who feel that they are somehow more fit to determine the quality and legitimacy of their love and their families.
Joe is upset that "People from across the country, who have never met me and know nothing about my family, elect themselves the judge of my newfound home, my second chance, and tell me that my love for David and our nephews and niece are somehow worth less than their own. What person under heaven is qualified to make such judgment?"
Consequently, they both believe that any constitutional amendment against gay weddings that limits families and the love of two people is unjust.
According to Joe, "Amendments are supposed to remedy the prejudices that make their way into society and even into the Constitution itself. They are not, and cannot be, ways to violate human rights and human love, to reinforce prejudice and injustice."
Amanda Escamilla, 36, and Liz Solomon, 32
A new house, a new city and new hopes. In Somerville for just three weeks, Amanda and Liz have a new home near Magoun Square.
They met late in the late summer of 1994 at Amanda's workplace in Boston and got together shortly after.
Amanda is a bilingual advocate for an anti-violence program and also works in the restaurant business. Liz works in HIV research and teaches yoga.
"We are very interested in the light of things happening here and it's been an instant introduction to Somerville. We feel there is good support in the community," said Liz regarding the same-sex marriage issue.
The couple, who have married "in every way possible," had their commitment ceremony in Cambridge in 1999 with family and friends in a "big huge ceremony."
Two years ago, they completed their union in Vermont.
"Short of getting the rights, we have done everything," said Liz. "We are getting a lawyer to get the legal documents done, but that's not something heterosexuals really have to do. We've gotten married three different times! But it's something we have to do to protect ourselves because no one else is protecting us."
They are very committed to one another and hope to expand their family with children someday.
The legal loopholes are what is continuously frustrating.
"The taxes are always a slap in the face because we have to say 'single' when we should have rights like other people who love each other," added Liz.
The same-sex marriage law would make all the difference to this couple who have worked hard to buy a house in a community they feel really comfortable living in.
"We feel very, very passionately about this," Liz added. "We are very committed to seeing this to, hopefully, a good resolution."
Darren Carlton, 34, and Brian Souza, 29
Darren, from Texas, is a technical writer, and local resident Brian is the director of an elder service project. Ball Square residents, they met at the Arlington Street Church 5 1/2 years ago and had their commitment ceremony in October 2001 in Boston.
"We've already made the personal commitment to each other," said Brian. "We are looking for community recognition and an acknowledgement of our commitment, as well as protection and benefits as a couple."
Even with the help of an attorney for items like health and life insurance, they fear they would still lack many of the rights and privileges that legally married couples enjoy.
They love Somerville and are considering a family soon. "I have always felt welcomed, appreciated and feel like a member of the community," said Darren. "But being a fully recognized member of society would make a big difference to me."
They have had a formal wedding with a honeymoon in Southern France, and the lack of a legal document recognizing this union makes them feel "like a bit of a betrayal."
"I am a good citizen, I do my work and volunteer my time in the community, so this is like a slap in the face," sighed Darren.
Annette Pleau, 37, and Amy Whitehead, 26
Union Square residents Annette and Amy first met at a gay and lesbian march in Boston. Annette was participating in the band, and Amy helped put up flyers around Cambridge for the program. It was love at first sight and they have been together for five years.
Annette is a music therapist from California, and Amy who grew up everywhere as an "Army brat," and has a fellowship in social justice. She has to pay $400 in monthly fees for her insurance as Annette's company does not recognize her as a spouse.
"A same-sex marriage law would mean so much to us," Annette admitted.
They have already had a civil union in Vermont and a holy union in a Newton church, but legal rights is something they are still waiting for. "It would mean that if she went to hospital, I could be there for her," and vice versa. "It's all the rights and the dignity to mark on forms that we are a couple. After all, we want the same rights as everyone else in the county," Annette said.
Thought I'd post the stories from the link for all to see. Great find Joker!  | |
