ME AND MY TWO DADS‏

DEAR CCO READERS

Many don’t realize that marriage bans affect kids and families – not just same-sex couples.

My two dads taught me everything I know about love and family. And now we’re ready to show the rest of America what it means.

Next week, my family will drive from Kentucky to Washington D.C. to go before the Supreme Court. Together we’re fighting to get them to recognize my parents as a married couple.

This monumental trip is not just for our family, but so that couples in all 50 states can get married and have their existing marriages acknowledged and respected too.

For over 20 years, my parents have built their lives together and raised me, my two brothers, and my sister.

Back in 2008, they got married in Palm Springs. Although their marriage is recognized in California, it is not recognized in Kentucky, where we live.

The first time I realized we were being treated differently was when I was six years old. We tried to sign up for a family membership at the YMCA and were turned away. So we took action.

I remember handing out flyers about getting turned away at the YMCA and getting rude comments. As a child, it really confused me. I had never seen that kind of intolerance.

Our love is what makes us a family. Don’t we deserve the same treatment and rights?

The fact that my parents are forced to pay for different health insurance, dental insurance, car insurance, and other things costs us thousands more than other families. But it’s not just about the money.

Whenever I got sick as a kid, only one of my dads could come with me to the doctor because they can’t both be my legal guardians. Things got really stressful whenever he couldn’t take off work to take care of me.

When I was nine years old, we went to our state capitol in Frankfurt, Kentucky, to rally for marriage for all. I was shocked to see so many people rallying against me and my family.

I’m nervous about what will happen next week. This could be life-changing for us, or heartbreaking. Either way, our journey to D.C. will be eye opening for us – different from anything we’ve done together.

I’m mostly just hoping for the best.

Tevin Johnson-Campion