Bring Darin Home
Donation protected
After long battles and lots of tears, DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act, section 3, which states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman) was struck down in the supreme court. For my partner and I, this is a dream come true.
Daniel, or Darin as he prefers to be called, lives in the UK. I met him seven years ago as my best friend, and five years ago he became the love of my life. He has a kind heart, talks softly, listens to others, and has the most beautiful blue eyes. He's wonderful at making you feel good when you're down, or offer you a hand to help you back up again. When I was going through chemotherapy at the time, I didn't really have anything to live for, but he gave me his strength and courage even though we were an ocean away.
Soon after I moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains (5 years ago, to a lovely place called Floyd), Darin and I decided that it would be wonderful to finally meet in person. I saved every penny for a plane ticket to England, and when I finally got there we fell into a pile of joyful tears. It was as though we'd known each-other our entire lives, and that's the way it remains to this day.
(Day 2 in England)
(On a woodland trail in England, several weeks into my visit)
While in England, Darin and I entered into a civil partnership. It wasn't anything fancy, but we were both shaking as though it was a real wedding. We both got to say "I do", and for once we felt whole.
(Almost 2 months into my stay, Darin and I entered into a civil partnership in England. This photo was taken just before the ceremony.)
(A video of our ceremony)
After my visit, we decided to bring Darin home with me to live. It was then that we discovered there was more than an ocean keeping us from being together. Enter DOMA. We were devastated, but I still decided to bring Darin to visit my family under the Visa Waiver program (which allows 3 months for vacationing).
(Shortly after Darin arrived in the USA, in the photo are my sister and some of my good friends)
(Downtown Floyd on a Friday)
The community of Floyd loved him, my family loved him, and most of all I loved him more with each passing moment. We spend many days together watching the moon rise and taking walks in the forested trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Life was perfect and that's how we wanted it to stay, even though we both knew that DOMA wouldn't allow it.
Unfortunately, Darin was forced to return to England. United States law wouldn't allow him any extra time here with us. Since that day, it's been over a year since I saw him in person, held his hand, or comforted him in my arms. The other half of my heart has been torn away from me, and while DOMA is now a thing of the past, my medical bills and rent are not. Even with a path to freedom laid before me, I don't have the money to pay for the forms, tickets, examinations and visas that would be required to bring Darin home.
If I had a single wish in my lifetime, I would state without hesitation that I want my Darin back home with me. I want to take those long walks again, spend hours just talking about life, and have a shoulder to cry on. If I had one wish, it would be this.
If you can offer anything, even a simple dollar, I would be eternally grateful. Even just spreading the word and this link helps SO MUCH!
It looks like $3270 would be the amount needed for the entire endeavor, which covers all of the costs needed to process paperwork and even get a plane ticket. Once all formalities are out of the way, Darin would be able to live in the United States with me for good... a dream we've been cultivating for 5 years now.
Thank you so much for your time, you gifts and your kindness! It means the world to us!
Daniel, or Darin as he prefers to be called, lives in the UK. I met him seven years ago as my best friend, and five years ago he became the love of my life. He has a kind heart, talks softly, listens to others, and has the most beautiful blue eyes. He's wonderful at making you feel good when you're down, or offer you a hand to help you back up again. When I was going through chemotherapy at the time, I didn't really have anything to live for, but he gave me his strength and courage even though we were an ocean away.
Soon after I moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains (5 years ago, to a lovely place called Floyd), Darin and I decided that it would be wonderful to finally meet in person. I saved every penny for a plane ticket to England, and when I finally got there we fell into a pile of joyful tears. It was as though we'd known each-other our entire lives, and that's the way it remains to this day.
(Day 2 in England)
(On a woodland trail in England, several weeks into my visit)
While in England, Darin and I entered into a civil partnership. It wasn't anything fancy, but we were both shaking as though it was a real wedding. We both got to say "I do", and for once we felt whole.
(Almost 2 months into my stay, Darin and I entered into a civil partnership in England. This photo was taken just before the ceremony.)
(A video of our ceremony)
After my visit, we decided to bring Darin home with me to live. It was then that we discovered there was more than an ocean keeping us from being together. Enter DOMA. We were devastated, but I still decided to bring Darin to visit my family under the Visa Waiver program (which allows 3 months for vacationing).
(Shortly after Darin arrived in the USA, in the photo are my sister and some of my good friends)
(Downtown Floyd on a Friday)
The community of Floyd loved him, my family loved him, and most of all I loved him more with each passing moment. We spend many days together watching the moon rise and taking walks in the forested trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Life was perfect and that's how we wanted it to stay, even though we both knew that DOMA wouldn't allow it.
Unfortunately, Darin was forced to return to England. United States law wouldn't allow him any extra time here with us. Since that day, it's been over a year since I saw him in person, held his hand, or comforted him in my arms. The other half of my heart has been torn away from me, and while DOMA is now a thing of the past, my medical bills and rent are not. Even with a path to freedom laid before me, I don't have the money to pay for the forms, tickets, examinations and visas that would be required to bring Darin home.
If I had a single wish in my lifetime, I would state without hesitation that I want my Darin back home with me. I want to take those long walks again, spend hours just talking about life, and have a shoulder to cry on. If I had one wish, it would be this.
If you can offer anything, even a simple dollar, I would be eternally grateful. Even just spreading the word and this link helps SO MUCH!
It looks like $3270 would be the amount needed for the entire endeavor, which covers all of the costs needed to process paperwork and even get a plane ticket. Once all formalities are out of the way, Darin would be able to live in the United States with me for good... a dream we've been cultivating for 5 years now.
Thank you so much for your time, you gifts and your kindness! It means the world to us!
Organizer
Wolf Cherrix
Organizer
