There has been a hell of a lot of talk in Richmond Virginia the past few weeks about family values and in sitting reading the newspaper today, columnists continued their discussions on the latest atrocities regarding the member of the House of Delegates who was shunned from being appointed into office as a judge. Public opinion is of 
course the single reason is that he is very openly gay. We can all sigh and say – just another issue but it’s even far more reaching.
What I found interesting about the one columnist today is he equated the situation to the happenings in NC where gay marriage was highly banned – what you may or may not know is that the vote was put down mostly by African American voters. I’m not sure we really want to go down that road – after all discrimination is that no what the reason – at least in my opinion.
The other aspect has continually been brought out is about family values. Can gay marriage/households have them. WHAT? You have to be kidding me. They go to work and pay their taxes, love and have friends and family. Isn’t that the epitome of having family values? When I started writing same sex pieces, I heard a lot of basic crap about what it might do to my writing and sales – as in it could be a bad thing. WHY? I have really yet to hear anything decent in comments and to date, my latest piece released yesterday – about guess what, family values – seems to be doing well.
I think in going the blog hop its important for all of us to think about family indeed. I think there is such difficulties in people being able to enjoy relationships and when you mix family in the middle, whether we’re talking about children or our parents, cousins, aunts etc and you are involved in a same sex relationship, things can be tough and opinions and times tough for all those involved. I like to think of family as the strongest support system and rally around that but sometimes it’s tough when members of your own family honestly don’t believe in your lifestyle.
I’ve seen terrible arguments and more than one series of hurt feelings – even to the point of destroying the family unit over the years and it’s so 
sad. Right now we as humans have so much to deal with anyone from financial crises to illness, death to unemployment. Why make it harder?
In penning DONE, I wanted to take a look at what happens when two men longed not only to get married but have a child – and something of course goes terribly wrong. This blog isn’t about my piece but about the reverent thinking I had to do in penning the piece and really thinking about family values. I truly love it. To that end – let me hear from you. Tell me a story about your family values – and one that stretch the boundaries and the best story gets a copy of DONE.
Don’t forget to join all the other writers in this fabulous cause
http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/
Kisses  xxx
Cassandre
Passion with a Dark and Dangerous Twist 
Hello Cassandre,
This Post reminded me of 1 week again today. My Nephew has been with his Partner for over 10 years, they bought a house together, a car together, go on vacations togethers….but Still my Nephew would not tell anyone in they Family that they Loved each other. He would explain it away by saying it is just to expensive for 2 single guys to live in such an area on their own, so they just split everything…& as for the vacations…they’re just Best Friends so it’s only natural that they would “hang out” together.
I have known for years that my Nephew was Gay, I just wished he would have felt confortable enough to talk about it with Us, his Family & Friends because we lost out on 10 years of sharing his hidden happiness someone who truly loves him. He was always so worried about losing his job as an Educator (of course as we all know the ignorance of some close-minded people), afraid of what his Father (my Brother) & is Grandfather(my Father) would say, not wanting to disappointment them. Like Myself, my Mother knew as well, can’t hide anything from Us Women 🙂 & she had no problem with it at all. The only thing she kept saying is that she just wanted him to be happy. He also was VERY worried about his job in the Medical Field & what they would say if his Colleagues found out, not wanting to lose that job either to their ignorance.
Well I am Extremely Happy to say that last Saturday Night my Nephew Married his long-time Partner in a Formal Ceremony, Delicious Sit-Down Dinner & a Kick-Ass Party!!! LOL & you know what…..there was almost 150 people there!!!!! Isn’t that GREAT!!!!!! These were Family (yes even his Father, my Father, my Mother, my Brother….& what I thought was Great is that my Brother brought my 13 year old Nephew to show him there is nothing wrong with same sex marriages)Aunts, Uncles, his Friends that he went to High School with….& what he was sooooo worried about…even C0-Workers from both his Employers….as well as his Partners Family, Friends & Co-Workers.
I honestly have to admit, I was amazed, I truly didn’t think there would be so many people so accepting, it was WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I believe everyone deserves to be Openly Happy in Life, to be with the Person who Loves & Completes Them, without having to be subjected to the ignorance of some close-minded people. True Love does not see Race, Gender, Socio-Economic Status, etc….if people understood that, there would be so much more Happiness in this World.
Thank you for letting me have an avenue to talk about my Nephew’s Wedding. I know I was longggggg winded again 🙂 but it felt really Good. 🙂
Take Care Cassandre & I would very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered in your very generous giveaway for a chance to read your Book, “DONE”.
Thank You for participating in the Hop Against Homophobia.
Take care & Stay Naughty,
PaParanormalFan Renee
paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com
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