I will be the first to admit my situation is unique, however I will also state that it really isn't so different than 1000's of children that are placed in foster homes and up for adoption each year and are entrusted to stable and loving gay men, lesbians and same sex couples. For many reasons children are placed into the "system" and time and time again gay men, lesbians and same sex couples have proven to the courts that they are not only suited to be capable parents, but having children under their care is in the best interest of the child.

My Brother and his ex-wife gave birth to my beautiful Niece almost 4 years ago. My Brother has always been a devout Catholic while his ex wife never really considered her self to be religious, but had faith in God. While she was pregnant she began attending Church and although it was not a Catholic Church my Brother supported her choice and applauded her efforts to find a closer relationship with God. She soon started telling my Brother that Catholicism was not the true religion of God and asked that he attend the same Church as she. He obliged. During this time she would argue with him that he was not a true believer. For the record, the church that she was attending (and still attends) is not some "crack pot" obscure Church, but a nationally recognized Non-Denominational Church. Fast forward, 3 months after giving birth to my Niece she packed her stuff, my Niece and went into hiding at her sister's house that was on vacation at the time. She left a note for my Brother saying that their Daughter was the spawn of Satan since she was conceived at a time when both of her parent's were not true believers. Not only did she kidnap her daughter, but tried to kill her by forcing the devil out of her by withholding nutrition. Two days after she was abducted, she was found and had to be hospitalized for dehydration. My sister-in-law was stripped of her parental rights temporarily and my Brother filed for divorce. During the divorce proceeding she willingly signed away all legal and parental rights of her daughter in lieu of not having to pay child support for the next 18years. This decision was initiated by her after a full analysis by a psychiatrist that she was sane. In the year that followed the finalization of their divorce, my Brother was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He asked that I become her legal guardian and I took on the responsibility of primary caregiver of both him and my Niece. The day after the results were announced that Prop 8 had passed and the state of Arkansas banned the adoption and foster parenting of same sex couples, my Brother asked me to set up a meeting with an Attorney, my entire family and the mother and sister of my former sister-in-law. He wanted to announce while he still had the ability to speak, that his wish was that I legally adopt my Niece so that she could be protected under current state laws. He was scared that this country was slipping backwards and that he never wanted anyone to go against his wishes that I be the primary caregiver of his daughter and the only way to protect her was for me to adopt her while he was still alive. My family and my former sister-in-laws family agreed that it was in her best interest, and I happily agreed while at the same time it broke my heart that he had to do this to so he could die with the knowledge that no person or government could ever go against his last wishes. I will never be my Niece's Father; I will ensure that she knows who her father was and how much he truly loved her. However, I do not know how to explain to her that her mother tried to kill her because she was told to do so by the voice of God per her explanation. Upon her hearing that I would be adopting my Niece she contacted a lawyer to try and gain custody back because she would not sit back and have her daughter be raised by "some fag that would turn her against Christ and lead her into a world of damnation" (her words). She sent me a letter saying that I was unfit, and that she was the only person who could raise her daughter properly. She included a letter from her pastor that offered his services to administer supervised visitation between my Niece and the woman who gave her birth. The only thing that came out of that letter was a restraining order being put on her. I want all of these people of faith posting these horrible posts to explain to me how this woman would be a better parent to my Niece. Tell me how any straight person could do a better job of raising her and being able to tell her how much her Father loved her and share stories of who he really was. Tell me who would be better to raise her than the gay man that has got up in the middle of the night to take care of her when she was crying or the man that has taken care of her father when he has cried as well. How can you say that because I am gay that under these circumstances I am not the best man for the job? I am surrounded by loved ones who can help out. I am grounded in love and compassion and I have the financial means to give her a life that is comfortable. I am a man that loves her unconditionally. Tell me.

Ideally, she could have been raised by the Father who loves her, but sometimes the next best thing is a person who happens to be gay.