Comments | 13chapters: BTW.

13chapters

BTW.

Apr 20, 2010 17:47

People who are outraged over that story of the mistreatment of the gay couple in Sonoma should know that your plan has already started working: if you go to the Press Democrat's website right now this story is featured prominently on the front page ( Read more... )

i don't know what to think, is this the real life?

Comments 4

belleweather April 20 2010, 22:05:29 UTC

My gut instinct as a former elder law attorney is that there's some cognitive issues involved with one or both of the men. It just sounds a whole lot like the dementia/guardianship cases that I've worked on -- the very earnest "We did everything right and the mean county/judge/lawyer/etc. just didn't listen" is classic.

On the other hand, that the county is saying that it's a domestic violence case is PATENTLY ABSURD. While DV would give the county the right to keep the principles away from one another, it wouldn't give them the ability to liquidate assets in order to pay for nursing home care. ESPECIALLY a homestead and personal property which are always, always, always exempt when looking at paying for nursing home care.

I'm still agnostic on whether it was homophobia or not, but someone at the county seriously, SERIOUSLY screwed the pooch here.

13chapters April 20 2010, 22:32:27 UTC

Okay, thanks for the lawyerin' here. IDK how assets are distributed and all that other complicated stuff.

chasingtides April 20 2010, 22:25:23 UTC

Just because you're in a "typically gay friendly" place doesn't mean there aren't raging homophobes - or that they don't have power. (Hi, I come from the US Home of Gay Marriage. I also know that if I get gay bashed or whatnot before I manage to get out, I have such a low chance of getting my voice heard it's absurd.)

The fact that his possessions were sold off, etc. - in addition to being kept from seeing his partner (ime, even in a cognitive disability setting, you can get a day pass to visit a hospitalised or hospiced person) which is classic homophobia-in-law - doesn't sit right with me. I've lived through cases of family members getting mentally ill/incapable of taking care and .. this ain't how it's gone, not here anyway.

13chapters April 20 2010, 22:33:21 UTC

Yeah, it's just hard for me to reconcile this story with the place I know. I'm sure you can understand that. IDK. Someone seriously, seriously fucked up.