NPR article about events in our life thirty years ago -- DonViejo

[DonViejo]

Last edited Tue Jun 30, 2015, 09:57 AM - Edit history (3)

This article is about events in our life thirty years ago. The article is a transcript of the interview broadcast this morning. On this NPR site, there is a > in a box, just to the left of the headline. You can listen to the story by clicking on it. -- DonViejo

Regrets Linger 30 Years After Gay Couple Had Their Foster Children Taken Away

By BARBARA HOWARD

BOSTON - Many view Massachusetts as the catalyst that led to Friday’s Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

But the state’s trajectory on gay rights issues has not always been upward.

Thirty years ago, an attempt by two gay Boston men to become foster parents ignited a media and political firestorm — leaving regret that still smolders today.

‘Daddy Don’ And ‘Daddy Dave’

Don Babets and David Jean, like others in the gay community, had become urban pioneers, buying a house on Fort Hill in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. Babets, who worked for the city, had grown up the oldest of five. Jean, who worked for a nonprofit and was music director at his church, grew up as one of six. So it was only natural, after being together for seven years, that they thought about kids of their own. They applied to be foster parents.

“I had no agenda when I went in to do this. I just wanted to be a parent,” Jean said. “I wasn’t trying to prove anything. I wasn’t trying to stir up the pot.”

Babets and Jean were not the first gay foster parents; there had quietly been others — there was no policy prohibiting it at the time, the only guideline was the “best interest of the child” — but, by all accounts, Babets and Jean were the first foster parents who were openly gay.

The screening to become a foster parent was rigorous. Babets remembers a lengthy application and home visits with social workers. Character references came from Babets’ priest and Jean’s pastor.

more + pictures
http://www.wbur.org/2015/06/30/gay-boston-men-foster-parents

[lamp_shade]

1. What an amazing story, Don. I'm so proud of you and David.

Pam

[catrose]

2. Bravo, Don

[Raine1967]

3. Very proud and happy to kick this wonderful piece.

Mr. Don and Mr. Dave are heroes to me.

[Starry Messenger]

4. K&R

[lamp_shade]

5. Kick and rec...

[AuntPatsy]

6. Kicking

[hrmjustin]

7. K&R!

[herding cats]

8. Thank you for what you did.

It's people like you who helped make change nationwide possible.

[BainsBane]

9. Congratulations to your entire family!

I want to comment about the part relating to not having an agenda: It shows that for those who don't share full equality, personal lives are political. The mere desire to have children, something hetero couples don't have to think about the legality of, became a political issue because you were denied equal rights. Thankfully, we are one step closer to changing that.

[demmiblue]

10. K&R

[ismnotwasm]

11. K&R

[sheshe2]

12. K&R

Bravo Daddy Dave and Daddy Don.

[Cha]

13. Beautifully poignant story, Don.. brought tears to my eyes.

What a journey you and David have had.. I'm so happy for you all.

Such a loving family you have!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. K and r