What zip code are you in?
53212

Describe Your status:
Married, 12 years

I know you are looking for stories. I have one you may be interested in.....last week my husband and I were hit head on by a woman speeding at 70MPH in a 30 to 40 construction zone. We walked out of the car which was perched over the edge of a bridge in Madison.Obviously we survived because I am writing you. While I was dealing with the police, firemen and EMTs I was advocating for me and my husband, I said to them at one time, "That's my husband and where he goes I need to go." And no one questioned me or asked for proof.  We were taken to the emergency room and released that night. We stayed at my Mother in Law's house that night and her and her partner took care of us. My Mother in Law is Bisexual and her and her partner have been together for a very long time. They thankfully have the money to hire the lawyers to ensure their wishes will be granted upon death or in the case of an accident such as what happened to us last Sunday, August 9th. We were in Madison which is perceived as being more gay friendly but if we were a same sex couple perhaps I would not have been able to ride along in the emergency vehicle or been placed in the same emergency room as him. It occurred to me more than once that we were being treated as a married couple. And I wondered how we would have been treated if we were a same sex couple. I also wondered how I would have been treated if I did not speak English or was undocumented. Thankfully I am able to stand up for myself.

I want to say more about my family. Collectively, we are a large and diverse family. My husband's parents are still very good friends and holidays and birthday parties are a big celebration with all of us together. Their partners are very understanding and enjoy each others' company too. I could not have married into a better family and my Progressive Mexican Catholic nuclear family and more extended family in Iowa have been very welcoming to Devin's family. We are very blessed. I do worry about Devin\s Mom and her partner and their rights in our still somewhat closed society especially as they age. I hope they will be treated fairly in years to come and will continue to advocate for their equal treatment under the law.