Family Spotlight:
Anthony and Stephen
Anthony and Stephen, of Columbia, Md., pictured with their son, Kortel, experienced "love at first sight" when they met ten years ago on a ski trip.
It was love at first sight when Anthony and Stephen met ten years ago on a ski trip. Anthony and Stephen adopted Kortel three years into their relationship. Because Anthony and Stephen lived in Virginia, only Anthony had legal rights regarding Kortel's health and welfare. "Just in case something happened to Kortel or to me," says Anthony. "It was very important that Stephen wouldn't have to fight to maintain his parental rights to Kortel. After all, he's Kortel's father just as much as I am."
After Stephen finished medical school and accepted a job at University of Maryland Medical System Hospital, and Anthony retired after 20 years in the Army, the couple relocated to Maryland in 2003. Says Anthony: "We were looking forward to moving to Maryland from Virginia because Maryland is less homophobic than Virginia, especially with its laws. We couldn't have obtained a second-parent adoption in Virginia."
In 2004, Stephen sought to gain his legal rights by filing for second parent adoption in Baltimore. Stephen, Anthony & Kortel currently live in Columbia, Md., which they find to be an ideal community to raise their son. Anthony is currently pursuing his MSW from the University of Maryland school of Social Work, and he's working with Equality Maryland as a volunteer. Stephen is a Med/Ped resident at the University of Maryland Medical System Hospital. Kortel attends Columbia Academy where he's in the 6th grade and doing very well.
"We already consider ourselves married, but we want our relationship to be legally recognized in the eyes of the law," says Anthony. "The ability to legally marry is to be recognized as a full citizen and have the same protections and privileges other families take for granted."
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