I mediate gay family issues - do you need this?

[Carolynn ni Lochlainn]

I'm looking to gain understanding as to why so much effort has been directed toward the straight community and divorce court, and so little to the GLBT community. Some answers are obvious, but shouldn't we use all the laws and tools we have to protect ourselves? I'd love to know what you think.

[Lindsey Taylor]

That is a very good question! I agree, you hardly ever see legal (or other) issues surrounding a GLBT relationship. For example, your point on divorce and you really don't see domestic violence. There are those rare articles or TV segments that touch on these subjects but not really.

You have a very good point and I think it should be looked into. The gay community is looked at as promiscuous and frivolous (sometimes) but what about the couples who are dedicated or the business owners who work their tails off or all of the other people who support GLBT communities ETC.

I also think that some members of the community are not aware of what is available to them as far as tools and using them. Or sometimes they are scared to use those tools in fear of being "outed."

[Carolynn ni Lochlainn]

Thanks so much for your reply, Lindsey. I am DETERMINED as I start up my mediation biz to get to the bottom of this, to get the word & my name out, and to research all necessary law to make certain that issues surrounding children of a gay partnership are properly handled in a mediation and are presentable to a court of law.

I think that the lack of legal gay marriage and associated statutory rights (visiting in hospitals, for instance, or loss of consortium claims in personal injury and medical malpractice suits) keeps at least some of the community suspended in a kind of teenaged unreality. Very level-headed couples I've talked with don't even have wills, living wills, and healthcare proxies. Both names aren't on the deed to their home. It's AWFUL!

Issues of mediating in a domestic violence situation (the need for parity between parties), and all other touchy mediation subjects are PRECISELY the same in the Queer community as those same issues in the straight community. I'd mediate those in the same way as my straight divorce training has told me to. I sincerely hope that more folks reply to this discussion, and that I can become informed about how I can serve AND how I can get the word out that I'm here.

I'm not only interested in splits, by the way...other types of family disputes are really well managed in mediation.

Thanks again!

Carolynn