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Theresa and Mercedes Volpe and SantosAmerican women, lesbians, public figures
Country:
 USA |
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American Lesbians and Activists Teresa Volp and Mercedes Santos Fight for Same-Sex Marriage
Teresa Volp and Mercedes Santos, American lesbians and social activists, have long been fighting for the right of same-sex couples to legally marry. Currently, their fight reaches a truly pivotal moment as the issue of same-sex marriages will once again be heard in the Supreme Court this week. As of now, same-sex marriages are officially permitted in nine American states: Iowa, Washington, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. If Volp and Santos succeed in their efforts, the tenth state to allow same-sex marriages will be Illinois.
The Long Battle for Equal Rights
Teresa and Mercedes have been working towards passing the bill through the legislative system of Illinois for quite some time. Recently, they were able to gather enough support for the bill, but unfortunately, its passage has been delayed once again – even with the support of Democrats. While the bill did pass in the Senate, Volp and Santos have yet to celebrate a full victory. The delays they have faced have caused evident frustration, although they understand that some of the reasons behind the delay are objectively unavoidable, which only adds to the overall difficulty of the situation.
A Continued Struggle
The behind-the-scenes battle for the passage of new laws did not stop even during the recent spring recess. Over the past two weeks, both supporters and opponents of the bill have made significant efforts to strengthen their positions. Supporters of the bill primarily rely on the Democratic party, which is a strong argument in a state currently governed by a Democratic governor. Opponents of same-sex marriages prefer to seek support from a more conservative demographic, such as residents of agricultural areas in the southern part of the state.
A Personal Journey
For Teresa Volp and Mercedes Santos, the new law is not only important as a significant achievement in the socio-political realm – the two women have been together for 21 years. During this time, Volp and Santos have even managed to have two children through anonymous donors. They have personally experienced the difficulties that come with having a relationship that lacks official recognition. Two years ago, their youngest child, 2-year-old Jaidon, was hospitalized due to serious kidney problems that nearly cost him his life. Even in such a dire situation, the women were unable to be in the child's room at the same time because the existing rules did not consider the possibility of having two mothers.
Hope for a Normal Family
Of course, the passage of the new bill is unlikely to instantly ease the lives of same-sex couples. Hospitals, for example, will need some time to reconsider their internal regulations. The acceptance of same-sex marriages will not change the behavior of homophobes; in fact, there are grounds to believe that such a defeat will only further enrage this group. However, Teresa and Mercedes dream above all else of becoming a normal family and obtaining normal parental rights. The fate of Proposition 8 is still under question; supporters of the bill will present their arguments in court on Tuesday, while opponents will do so on Wednesday. A positive decision could theoretically have a national impact and make the lives of activists in other states easier, but it is too early to speculate on this.
