Of all the stories I read this weekend I liked this one the best.
Firstly because it gives gay and lesbian parents their due. Many adopt children that others don't want. Children with special needs, or kids who have been horribly abused in broken homes.
(James) and his biological half-brother Brandon (now 13) were just 3 and 5 when they first met their fathers-to-be in 2002. Removed from a home plagued by abuse, addictions and mental-health issues when James was scarcely 18 months old, the two were living with their second set of foster parents when Gibson and Jones came their way.
And despite the extra challenges, and the bigotry aimed at them, so many do an amazing job.
Secondly, because although I don't like ballet, I greatly admire ballet dancers. I used to take martial arts classes next to a ballet school, so I know how brutally hard they have to train if they want to be good...and what awesome athletes they are.
And thirdly because I LOVE the movie Billy Elliot. I love the music and the dancing. Especially the Angry Dance. I love the message it sends out: Boys and girls should be free to follow their dreams, and not have to settle for society's narrow stereotypical roles.
And I especially love the final scene. When although Billy Elliot isn't gay, he does something so many gay boys wish they could have done.
Impress his dad at last...
I've known so many gay guys who tried so hard to do that, but never could. Because their dads couldn't accept them for who they are...and were too disappointed to love them, or encourage them to be themselves.
Somehow I don't think this little Billy Elliot from Bowmanville is going to have that problem. Good for his dads.
Great parents are AWESOME.
Fly James fly !!!
Funny - when I saw that story in the Star this weekend, I somehow completely missed the 'two dads' part until I was well into reading the article. I thought it was just just a story about stereotypes about male dancers and an abused kid rising from adversity.
ReplyDeleteAnd so it is.
What does talent have to do with parentage?
ReplyDeleteExactly.
hi Jennifer...well I don't blame you, the article itself was all over the place. But it was billed as a follow up to a story about how the two guys adopted James and his brother seven years ago. And you can read the original article in the sidebar.
ReplyDeleteBut tell me...does this ability to miss certain things help you when you read Iggy's speeches? ;)
hi Torontonian...I'm not quite sure what you mean. But all I was trying to do was point out a happy gay family story. Talent is talent, but if you don't encourage it, or try to suppress it because it doesn't fit your idea of what role a boy or a girl should play, it can wither on the vine.
ReplyDeleteSo yes parenting is important.
P.S. I should add that my Dad was ALWAYS impressed by yours truly. And when he occasionally forgets how lucky he is to have me, I'm not shy about reminding him... :)
Talent emerges irrespective of parentage.
ReplyDeleteHeya this is totally unrelated to this post BUT I stumbled upon your post about Aids, written like a year ago I think. I was wondering if you had any advice to give me; I'm trying to organize an Aids awareness night in Montreal. There should be info on safe sex, live bands, hiv testing booths, testimonials...I was just wondering about the best way to construct this event as in, how do I get the message across. I mean people know about the consequences of unprotected sex, yet its still being done. What should be my angle, in other words? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks;)
ReplyDelete