Katrina and Same Sex Families
Katrina Spells Unspoken Disaster
By Marta Donayre
El Observador
The images of the devastation and suffering caused by
hurricane Katrina are the tip of the iceberg of what
is to follow. Many will have to rebuild their lives
from scratch, and people in the LGBT and HIV-positive
communities will have the hardest time.
The states that were the most impacted by Katrina -
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - all have measures
in place that forbid the legal recognition of same-sex
couples and their families. After the dust settles,
partners will have a harder time locating loved ones.
If they succeed, it will be almost impossible to make
medical decisions for them if needed.
If the family home was in the name of a deceased
partner, a surviving partner may have no rights to
insurance monies. All of the inheritance may go to the
nearest blood relative, who may not approve of the
relationship and deny the survivor benefits, including
attending the funeral.
Children in these families face undue burdens and
challenges. If the biological parent dies, their other
parent will be unlikely to obtain their custody. Many
may end in the foster care system, even though one of
their parents is alive and well. And these are only
state-wide problems.
Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, that defines
marriage federally only as that between a man and a
woman, many will be denied aid from FEMA, and survivor
benefits from the Social Security Administration. Many
children too may be denied pensions if they lose their
non-biological parent.
The HIV-positive population will face incredible
hurdles. The South has the largest percentage of
people affected by HIV/AIDS. According to a report by
the Center for Disease Control and The Aids Institute,
40 percent of all HIV victims live in the South, yet
only 38 percent of the U.S. population lives in the
South. The majority of all HIV-positive Southerners,
53 percent, are African-American.
HIV infection in the South carries tremendous stigma,
and many clinics dispense medication through the back
door so patients won't be seen entering an HIV/AIDS
clinic. Many of them are now in massive refugee camps,
and are likely to be without medication. Some may
choose to not take it to avoid revealing their HIV
status.
The human drama caused by discrimination and stigma is
unlikely to hit the airwaves. We won't see surviving
partners pleading for help, or HIV-positive people
asking for their medication making headlines. But they
will be there, suffering silently, and ignored by
society at large.
When disaster hits, minority groups are always hit the
hardest. Most of us will never hear their stories. We
always hear the sad stories of the stranded tourists,
but never learn the full impact of the calamity on the
most vulnerable segments of society.
Marta Donayre is the co-founder of Love Sees No
Borders, is a member of the National Steering
Committee of Amnesty International's OUTFront Program,
and a member of the National Latina/o Coalition for
Justice. Visit her web site at www.martadonayre.com If
you have questions you can write to her at
marta_donayre@yahoo.com
By Marta Donayre
El Observador
The images of the devastation and suffering caused by
hurricane Katrina are the tip of the iceberg of what
is to follow. Many will have to rebuild their lives
from scratch, and people in the LGBT and HIV-positive
communities will have the hardest time.
The states that were the most impacted by Katrina -
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - all have measures
in place that forbid the legal recognition of same-sex
couples and their families. After the dust settles,
partners will have a harder time locating loved ones.
If they succeed, it will be almost impossible to make
medical decisions for them if needed.
If the family home was in the name of a deceased
partner, a surviving partner may have no rights to
insurance monies. All of the inheritance may go to the
nearest blood relative, who may not approve of the
relationship and deny the survivor benefits, including
attending the funeral.
Children in these families face undue burdens and
challenges. If the biological parent dies, their other
parent will be unlikely to obtain their custody. Many
may end in the foster care system, even though one of
their parents is alive and well. And these are only
state-wide problems.
Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, that defines
marriage federally only as that between a man and a
woman, many will be denied aid from FEMA, and survivor
benefits from the Social Security Administration. Many
children too may be denied pensions if they lose their
non-biological parent.
The HIV-positive population will face incredible
hurdles. The South has the largest percentage of
people affected by HIV/AIDS. According to a report by
the Center for Disease Control and The Aids Institute,
40 percent of all HIV victims live in the South, yet
only 38 percent of the U.S. population lives in the
South. The majority of all HIV-positive Southerners,
53 percent, are African-American.
HIV infection in the South carries tremendous stigma,
and many clinics dispense medication through the back
door so patients won't be seen entering an HIV/AIDS
clinic. Many of them are now in massive refugee camps,
and are likely to be without medication. Some may
choose to not take it to avoid revealing their HIV
status.
The human drama caused by discrimination and stigma is
unlikely to hit the airwaves. We won't see surviving
partners pleading for help, or HIV-positive people
asking for their medication making headlines. But they
will be there, suffering silently, and ignored by
society at large.
When disaster hits, minority groups are always hit the
hardest. Most of us will never hear their stories. We
always hear the sad stories of the stranded tourists,
but never learn the full impact of the calamity on the
most vulnerable segments of society.
Marta Donayre is the co-founder of Love Sees No
Borders, is a member of the National Steering
Committee of Amnesty International's OUTFront Program,
and a member of the National Latina/o Coalition for
Justice. Visit her web site at www.martadonayre.com If
you have questions you can write to her at
marta_donayre@yahoo.com