Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy Steps Up To Support Hazel Park Couple (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Originally printed 10/2/2013, Between The Lines News)
The Hazel Park lesbian couple suing Michigan and Oakland County for the right to jointly adopt their children and to marry each other is getting even more attention and support as over 100 people gathered at Affirmations Community Center in Ferndale for a fundraiser last week. The keynote speaker for the event was Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Worthy is an advocate for adoption, and has three adopted children of her own – a 16 year-old and a set of 4 1/2 year old twins. She spoke from experience when she said that Jayne Rowse and April DeBoer had already been proven to be good parents by the state, explaining that the vetting process for adoptive parents is “rigorous.” The only difference between her adoption and the adoptions by Rowse and DeBoer, is that if Worthy decided to get married her husband could also adopt her children. In the Hazel Park couple’s case, the state forbids it.
“What makes me better than Jayne or April? Why should I have more rights? Why should I have more choices? The only difference is they are a lesbian couple. How is that right?” Worthy asked.
“I don’t think I’m overstating it to say that this case makes a statement about who we are in Michigan, who we are as Americans, who we are as parents, and more importantly how we feel about our children. But the biggest statement for me is why in the world do we have to file a lawsuit like this in the first place?”
Worthy complimented the women, pointing out that one is DeBoer is a neonatal intensive care nurse and Rowse is an emergency room nurse, both working in Detroit. “Two nurses. How much better parents can you get?” she said. “Their three children have high special needs and suffice to say there’s not a line around the block of parents wanting to adopt these children. That’s why this is all so ludicrous. Now the state would rather let these children linger in foster care rather than let two gay parents adopt them legally.
“Now in my opinion, the State of Michigan should be falling all over themselves and thanking these women for taking these children and caring for them. In my opinion, unions like this should be celebrated. In my opinion, any and all protections and precautions taken so that if God forbid something does happen to Jayne and April, the other would have requisite parental rights… The state foster care system needs to be opened up to every good set of parents that wants to take children into their houses.”
DeBoer thanked the crowd for coming and the attorneys working hard on their case. “We are just telling you how we feel. We are making people aware of what we’re facing because in the long run if these laws don’t change, there are going to be a lot of families like ours that are leaving Michigan,” she said.
The case moves forward on Oct. 16 when District Court Judge Bernard Friedman is expected to rule on a motion for summary judgment. Last week’s event raised over $20,000 to help the couple fight their case.
Here are previous stories on the Hazel Park couple’s case:
Hazel Park moms take adoption restrictions to federal level, 3/29/2012
Adoption Rights Suit Amended to Include Same-Sex Marriage, 9/13/2012
Judge Decides To Wait On Adoption And Gay Marriage Decision, 3/7/2013 Mommy Issues, 5/9/2013
VIDEO: Hazel Park Case Could Pave The Way For Marriage, Adoption In Michigan, 6/27/2013
Hazel Park Lesbian Couple’s Case Moves Forward, 7/01/2013
Clerk Brings In New Lawyers To ‘Defend’ In Hazel Park Couple’s Case, 7/18/2013
State Answer to Hazel Park Couple and Kids: You are not a Family, 7/24/2013