tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387298392024-03-05T04:20:12.914-05:00Gay American FamilyA simple expression of what it is to be a Gay American Family.Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-74511816975954641082010-11-08T16:47:00.000-05:002010-11-08T16:47:06.638-05:00Post-election fearsRolling fresh off the election of Georgia's most anti-gay Governor-elect in history, my wife and I wonder what these election results mean to our family. Will the climate of acceptance we currently enjoy change for the worse? We know Georgia is far away from treating its citizens equally, but at least we live in area of the state where our family is accepted and treated with the respect it Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-50712455297489555722010-10-08T14:42:00.000-05:002010-10-08T14:42:40.915-05:00Parents Dealing with School BulliesWith the recent media attention on the numerous tragic suicides related to school bullies, I have found parents, gay and straight, are more on edge about the affects of bullies on their children. I think this is a good thing because I want to live in a society where no one tolerates bullying on any level. A complete societal shift is the only way we will end this epidemic (think of the societal Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-92122323821451938302010-10-07T09:36:00.000-05:002010-10-07T09:36:15.749-05:00Teaching the word "Gay"I am probably way behind on this question, but I am going to put it out there anyway. I have a 5 1/2 year old daughter who doesn't know what the word "gay" or "lesbian" means, which is kind of ridiculous since mommy works for the Gay Community. I don't know why or even how we have avoided the subject for this long, but somehow we have reached this point and she doesn't know, and I am thinking I Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-83125692307037728272010-10-07T08:39:00.000-05:002010-10-07T08:39:41.108-05:00Happy Pride!Yes, it is still weird to have Pride in October. This is our second year celebrating Atlanta Pride in October. At least this year it is a little earlier in the month, and we are likely to have gorgeous weather this weekend. I love not having it in the hot month of June, but last year it was raining and cold (a terrible combination for me).
I don't know if it is because I am a mother, but I keep Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-68338586098382284092010-07-07T10:44:00.000-05:002010-07-07T10:44:23.518-05:00LGBT Equality and RetirementSpending the Fourth of July weekend at my parents' retirement community has me reflecting on what my retirement will look like. Whether at their Florida retirement community or the North Carolina one (they change residences based on the temperature), I always find myself walking their neighborhoods looking at the different style houses and picking out the one I would get if I was in Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-5213828964541833792010-05-25T11:04:00.000-05:002010-05-25T11:04:37.502-05:00The Marriage ExpectationI started the MEGA Family Project over six years ago with the notion that LGBT couples should be afforded the right to marry our same-sex partners, and receive the same rights, benefits, and obligations that our straight counterparts receive through the institution of marriage. Living in a conservative state like Georgia, I have no illusion that marriage equality is coming here any time soon.
Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-43752715094360741772010-03-23T17:21:00.001-05:002010-03-23T17:21:31.127-05:00BulliesSitting at McDonalds Playland watching my daughter deal with a little bully boy. I am trying to teach her to deal with him. I find myself at a loss unless I tell her to just beat him up, which then makes her the bully.So, how do you teach your kids to deal with bullies without resorting to violence?Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-54384344133243492432010-03-06T01:16:00.000-05:002010-03-06T01:16:53.269-05:00"Can we go to Seattle"My daughter Maggie has just turned 5 years old. She joined our family through the wonderful process of open adoption at birth. It is just in the last 6 months that she has shown signs that she actually understands a little about her adoption.
We have been honest with Maggie about her adoption since she was old enough to understand words. The books we have read say children are better adjusted Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-56311460117443529202010-02-10T11:03:00.002-05:002010-02-10T11:22:30.442-05:00Legal Protections for LGBT CouplesUnfortunately, in the absence of marriage, most LGBT couples do not have in place the potentially life-changing legal protections available to them. Heterosexual married couples are given legal rights to visit each other in the hospital, to make medical and burial decisions, a host of parenting rights, and so many other rights simply because they are married.In Georgia, same-sex couples cannot Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-58609847863892014992009-11-03T09:01:00.003-05:002009-11-03T09:08:43.968-05:00November is National Adoption MonthNovember is National Adoption Month, and President Obama used part of his proclamation to urge equality in adoption laws so that more children can find good homes:"America is a country rich in resources and filled with countless caring men and women who hope to adopt. These individuals come from all walks of life, united in their commitment to love a child who is in need of the protective arms ofKathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-91972044685241691902009-04-28T23:11:00.001-05:002009-04-28T23:11:07.076-05:00Parenting: The Most Awesome ExperienceNo one can adequately explain what it means to become a parent. If you've seen Marley & Me (which I don't recommend for pet lovers), there is one scene where Jennifer Anniston's character is losing her mind trying to juggle the needs of her children with her own, and her husband doesn't know what to do to make things better and gets the brunt of her frustration. I remember feeling like Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-40832350575683184202009-04-14T08:43:00.001-05:002009-04-14T08:43:21.290-05:00Help spread the word: free coming out group this Thursday! The MEGA Family Project Presents Our Monthly Coming Out Support Group:Coming Home Support Group! April 16th, 7pm Finally the Metro Atlanta area has a free coming out group for adults 18+. Coming Home will meet the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7-8:30pm. It will meet at the Florence McDonnell Center which is at 2215 Cheshire Bridge Road, NE Atlanta, 30324. This group is open to anyone atKathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-72613248132389804932009-04-09T14:37:00.002-05:002009-04-09T14:57:43.975-05:00A Small Victory for Mom(s)As Morghan has nearly made it through her first year of middle school, I'd have to say, for now at least, I still have my sweet girl. What I have noticed a tad more of, though, is the self-comparison and the avoidance of standing out...this is all typical of her age group and it doesn't worry me in the least. However...as a lesbian mom (who looks gay, too...LOL), I have found myself struggling toUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-27454573319672778332009-02-16T00:21:00.001-05:002009-02-16T00:21:18.929-05:00Get a fantastic deal on a Rosie cruise to Alaska this summer! Last day to bid!Rosie's R Family Vacation Summer Alaskan Cruise 2009! MEGA Family Project is delighted to offer up for auction a dream vacation on Rosie's R Family Vacation Summer Cruise! July 11th-18th, leaving out of Seattle to Alaska and British Columbia! Kathy Kelly has been on the cruise 3 times since her daughter was 5 months old. "It is truly an amazing Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-32160885171837819802009-01-05T19:38:00.002-05:002009-01-05T20:06:04.194-05:00Gays Aren't Accepted by God, Right?Well, of course we are...after all, most of us feel born this way, right? If God is all about deep, spiritual love, then wouldn't that love run way deeper than gender, chromosomes, body parts, hormones and all?Let me preface my "spiel" by saying I am only describing my own personal journey. In no way am I trying to be a crazy evangelist who prescribes "correct lifestyles" to others. I just know Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-16241651601170644472009-01-02T22:52:00.002-05:002009-01-02T22:57:40.360-05:00Just a random comment....At the risk of being verbally abused I have a thought that has been bothering me. I am aware that those advocates who are out there to watch out for my rights as a gay man and father have to pay attention to everything that happens. With that said, I feel that the "hype" around the president - elect's choice for a minister for his invocation is making us seem as non-inclusive as we accuse the "Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-23915056125506707212008-12-22T13:01:00.002-05:002008-12-22T13:34:42.606-05:00I'll be Home (Alone) for ChristmasWow...what a time of year to finally break up. Right now, very little makes sense to me, and I have so many questions.There is a reason the military has a high divorce rate. Of course, a variety of things can take place to destroy a marriage (or even an engagement, which was us). Deployments often change the soldier and hit them deeply...the other half at home even changes along the way. All thisUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-78097827759683062392008-11-16T19:48:00.002-05:002008-11-16T20:58:02.976-05:00The "Invasion" of GaysAt random, I came across this video of older people sitting around and talking about the issue of gays. Don't ask why this was on video, I wouldn't know. I was looking up videos on equality and somehow found this one. At any rate, the man doing most of the talking of course referred to God's will as the reason "homosexuality ain't right" (as he stated). He then said something about being scared Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-41108743791392312182008-11-05T23:05:00.004-05:002008-11-06T00:09:48.553-05:00Election Day Glory and DevastationWow, election day was exhausting this year. This was such an important day. Election morning I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. The only thing I could compare it to was the feeling of excitement I had leading up to Christmas. This was going to be my best Christmas ever, and my present would be President-elect Obama.By 1pm on election day I was exhausted from the intense excitement IKathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-69272241524275281162008-11-03T20:53:00.002-05:002008-11-03T21:06:50.407-05:00The eve of a historic electionIt is the eve of one of the most historic elections of my life. There is so much at stake, and I am both nervous and optimistic about our future. I, like many other Americans, have been anticipating tomorrow for so long. Will our families face a win tomorrow in the many elections in our state and across the country? I hope so.We must keep our eyes on what happens in California with the efforts toKathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-50920122707467881702008-10-30T10:15:00.001-05:002008-10-30T10:15:53.581-05:00Just under two hoursI made it and voted just under two hours. A small price to pay to partake in this historic election. Now I just hope my vote actually gets counted. The lines outside the building have increased considerably. At least it isn't cold now.I still say we can do better to lessen lines and make voting available to more people by extending the voting hours and days.Kathy KellyExecutive DirectorMEGA Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-57077912944506579872008-10-30T09:05:00.001-05:002008-10-30T09:05:14.124-05:00One hour and fifteen minutes...After one hour and fifteen minutes, I finally made it inside the building to what appears to be another very long line. Most people are just happy to make it inside to get out of the cold.They started allowing people with very small babies to come inside. They won't let them vote, but are allowing them to wait inside. Obviously the election officials don't realize how hard it is to vote Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-55863597214195332172008-10-30T08:22:00.001-05:002008-10-30T08:22:31.308-05:00Secretary of State Suppressing the Vote?It is Thursday morning and I am standing in a very long line to vote in Tucker, GA. It is freezing out here, so you have to admire the many people in line willing to wait what looks to be a couple of hours to vote. This is democracy at its best.One has to wonder why on earth the Republican Secretary of State is not doing more to help people vote in a more expeditious manner.In Florida, the Kathy Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567965038777921119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-23985711601610430652008-08-23T01:54:00.003-05:002008-08-23T02:30:27.153-05:00Coming Out of the Closet...About the Moms...SlowlyI've stated in previous posts that even though I'm out of the closet, I've left it up to the children to decide how they will address the issue of having two moms. Of course, I'm there every step of the way, but I allow them to come out with it as they feel comfortable. Maybe if they had been conceived or adopted under these circumstances, I would have approached it differently. However, my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38729839.post-77212930889417790342008-08-18T19:28:00.002-05:002008-08-18T19:37:34.281-05:00Working togetherAs a married man with 2 children I was given the advice of an older gentleman in my church that as parents we should give a united front even if we didn't always agree. He said it showed that as adults we were capable of working together to "get the job done". Making decisions is never easy. As an out "somewhat single" gay man who is still parenting 2 kids with my x wife I remember those words Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0