Phoenix gay dads adopt, raise 12 happy kids

[Liberal_in_LA]

be sure to click on the link to see the pic of the big happy family

Phoenix gay dads adopt, raise 12 happy kids
Couple wouldn't give up to adopt, love kids from foster care


Steven and Roger Ham are raising 12 children, all adopted from foster care, in Arizona, one of the most unlikely places for two gay men to piece together a family.

In Arizona, two men can't be married, nor adopt children together.

In his 2008 run for U.S. president, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who with wife Cindy has an adopted daughter, said he opposed allowing gay people to adopt.

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Steven and Roger Ham wanted a family. And each of their sons and daughters was desperate for one. But bringing together this family wasn't easy.

"We had to fight to get them," Roger says.

"We had to fight to get them all," Steven says.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliving/articles/2011/05/02/20110502gay-dads-ham-family-12-adopted-kids.html#ixzz1Lcwtct6x

[txwhitedove]

1. Awesome, wonderful, beautiful family. Lucky kids.

[midnight]

4. My thoughts too.. Awesome.

[blueamy66]

2. I read the story, from beginning to end last Sunday.

I had tears in my eyes when I was done.

Beautiful story and beautiful family.

Oh, and screw McCain.

[blondeatlast]

7. What you said. I'll call your "Screw McCain" and raise you

a "fuck the AZ legislature three ways from Sunday."

[blueamy66]

9. And then they can screw sheriff joe

My entire state is effed up. I'm embarrassed to say that I live in AZ.

[blondeatlast]

10. Me too--Just south of Carefree (literally and figuratively).

:hi:

[blueamy66]

12. Nice area!

I'm in Chandler.

I like alot of stuff here in AZ, but dream to live in either San Diego or N. Carolina.

[Terra Alta]

3. these kids are very lucky

to have two wonderful, caring parents to raise them. May their lives be full of joy.

[slampoet]

5. My vote for smile story of the day.

[blondeatlast]

6. Those lucky parents--you can see the love in the kids' eyes.

Sadly, in my state, I doubt the kids will ever see their parents wed and it's a damn shame.

Pardon me while I tear up. :cry:

[Arkansas Granny]

8. What a great story.

Isn't it sad that so many of the people who claim to champion family values find it so easy to deprive children of great parents because of their own prejudices and bigotry.

[Aristus]

11. I don't have the words...

That was just beautiful...

[Melinda]

13. The most wonderful 45 minutes of my reading life; Roger & Steven are AMAZING...

and loving Parent/Human/Peeples. I laughed, I cried, I became angry and then cried some more.... if ever there were two real angels here on earth, it is these two gentlemen. What a lovely story, such a great ever after. Bravo Dad and Papa. :)

*Edited to add paragraph from article that illustrates the kind of sterling character these two lovely men possess.

"State child-welfare officials learned to trust and rely on the Hams, bringing them 42 foster children over 10 years. Some needed shelter for a few days; others stayed for months. Child caseworkers knew the men would take in any child, day or night, no questions asked, and treat them as their own. And in the Hams' home, children were never sent back for doing something wrong, and it didn't matter that they were not all the same color, or had special needs."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliving/articles/2011/05/02/20110502gay-dads-ham-family-12-adopted-kids.html#ixzz1LdB1w6Q5

[CurtEastPoint]

14. Melinda, you stole my thoughts and reactions exactly.

What a wonderful story and kudos to those 2 guys and what lucky kids. This is what it's all about!

[Melinda]

15. Isn't it wonderful to come away with such lovely feelings?

These two men brought it all home, and helped to remind me that there is much good in this world yet! ;) What lucky children to know such love!! This is truly a happy family living their American dream. I love happy endings!! :hug:

[Mister Ed]

16. That is SO gay. n/t

[intaglio]

17. Wonderful! n/t

[xchrom]

18. Recommend

[Scuba]

19. Just wait'll Jan Brewer finds out! She'll throw the dads in jail and the kids in the street. n/t

[crickets]

20. Beautiful. K&R

[JAbuchan08]

21. THat's a really beautiful story

I didn't even read the full thing, just parsed it, but I kept tearing up.

[Exultant Democracy]

22. Oh my, thank you for finding and sharing this story.

Too many fools have a case of bad religion, god save us from his followers.