LGBT Couple Fights for Equal Rights

My sister Sam & her wife Olga are tens of thousands of dollars in debt with legal fees after losing their children in a custody case!  As a former employee of the Office of Consumer Litigation this case was simply discrimination against LGBT parents.  I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like for them to be discriminated against simply for loving each other.

I know that they are too humble to ask, so I am creating this for them.  After two years of legal fees we intend to help them obtain the most experience counsel in these issues for the betterment of their kids and so that it never happens again in the future to them or anyone else!  

They need our help to fight the injustice and protect their children. I know they will appreciate every single donation and put it directly to the fees involved with this custody battle.

Since I could never express how this feels, I will copy the recent post by Olga explaining the decision made by the court: 

Here is their story!

"Yesterday, my wife and I, experienced first hand the real and painful discrimination against same sex couples in a court room. Despite overwhelming evidence and confidence in our case, the judgment was against us. There were things that were said off record that are concerning and alarming. With all that, there was no reason provided as to why such compelling evidence was ignored and I was ordered to return my children to live with their father, at the end of the school year.

I broke, like never before. I felt my strength slip away. That "strength" that people encourage me to have "for my kids", it was nowhere to be found. Because I knew, before anyone in that court room, the decision that judge was going to make. And despite knowing ahead of time, I still could not prepare myself for the impact it made on my soul and heart, as I heard the sound of the words - the final order.

I keep replaying things in my head, over and over. There is nothing I could have done better. We went above and beyond what a heterosexual couple would, to make sure we don't lose the kids. But that's the problem - were not heterosexual.

Sam ran over to hold me and the bailiff jumped up looking concerned. I was shaking so hard that I thought I would fall to the floor. It was so painfully real, but felt like a really bad dream. There was nothing, absolutely nothing I could do to make it stop. I failed to hold on to my kids. My grip was not strong enough. The "system" that claims to have their best interest at heart is a lie.

Have you ever experienced crying so much that you can't cry anymore? It hurts to cry. Everything in me hurts. There is nothing worse than being so helpless in the decision that truly benefits my children. Knowing that every time someone said to me "in the best interest of the kids" actually meant "more money for me". It's all one big business where personal feelings are the driven factor of decision making. Decisions that alter people's lives.

Every meeting I had with any attorney in the last two years, every single one of them said: "it depends on how the judge feels that day". What!?!?! What happened to "The Law"? How do feelings come into play when my children's well-being is at stake?!?!?

The influx of support and love we have received is incredible and humbling. We can't thank you enough for your love. You know us. You know me. That is why you can feel my pain. As much as I hurt, I know you hurt with me. That is why our fight cannot end. Yesterday hurt all of us!

We will continue to fight..."

As you can see by what Olga wrote, they plan to continue to fight, to win their children back and appeal the current ruling. Sam and Olga are already in debt with legal fees from the last 2 years, and in order to appeal will need a substantial new amount to handle the legal fees. 

Thank you for your love and support and anything you can give.