Mar 1st, 2006
Be aware that the closest gay bar may be behind you…
Jimmy Palmieri’s article Disaster Preparedness for the Gay and Lesbian Community posted at Proud Parenting talks about needs that are specific to queer people and families.
Document, document, document! It matters in everyday life, and it matters even more in an emergency. Beyond the usual paperwork of joint ownership, domestic partnership, adoption documentation, the article also recommends photos with the parents and the kids. This makes a lot of sense, especially for kids who are not old enough to say their own name.
Palmieri also recommends that couples bring “at least one photo clearly showing the two of you together.” “Clearly…together” means something warmer and more obvious than that pile of shots you have from parties/reunions in which the two of you look like you’re standing side by side in a suspect line-up.
Another notable point in this article: recommending to cities that they keep the gay bars open. Considering how many communities do use bars as de-facto queer community centers, it’s a good idea. (I’d also add the gay bookstores to that list.)
Still, I can already hear the quips: “I’m hitting the bars. It’s an emergency!”