Royal Griggs is my name.  I live with my partner/husband, Joe Baker, near Denver, in Colorado.  We have been together ten years, and we're more in love now than we've ever been. 

I knew when we first met we were destined to be together.  And here we are!

We are not your traditional family, obviously.  For some reason, when people find out that we are a "couple", they get bent out of shape.  What really drives us up the wall are those religious nuts who say we're going to hell because we are living in sin; what we do is an "abomination to God".  Well, if that is so, then why are we still together?  Why are we so happy?

I personally think people like that need to butt out of our business and let us live our lives as we see fit.  Leave us the hell alone and let us raise our children!

I don't know why people are so bothered by the fact that we are gay.  So what.  That should not matter!  If they can't accept that, then to hell with 'em; we don't need 'em!  All we want to do is live our lives and give our sons the stability they probably never had while they were still in the foster care system!

They don't seem to have any problem with that:  they have accepted us; why, then, can't everyone else??

Our boys are named, in order of age:  Dexter Thane (13), and real-life brothers Eaton Daniel (11) and Eduard Damon (8).  They were all born in the US; we adopted them because the two brothers were being abused by their parents, and Dex was threatening to lose yet another foster family because of "behavioral lssues" that needed to be dealt with.

They are absolutely beautiful.  Dexter has reddish-brown hair done in an Afro, and gold eyes; he is quite exotic looking.  He has an autism spectrum disorder; he doesn't react to change very well.  He's also quite shy; we hope to change that. 

As for Eaton and Eduard, they look almost like twins:  they both have longish, dark-brown hair that spill into their faces, and green/gold eyes that remind me of a cat's.  They are both very introverted; it is going to take an awful lot of work to bring them out of their shell.

We have had Dex, Eaton, and Eduard for nearly two years now.  Dex has made a lot of progress; as for the other two, it's a day-to-day thing with them.  Some days they are quite loving and sociable; on others, it's all we can do to get them to pick up their clothes or toys, let alone, join us (and their brother) for game night or a trip to the local pizza joint.

We are quite visible around town.  Joe is an x-ray tech at a local hospital; as for me, I own a clothing boutique.  We are very happy, successful men; we are not hurting or lacking for anything.  Life has been very good to us; I just wish other people can accept us for our achievements rather than judging us, based on our sexual preference.

There are other gay couples around; I just don't understand what the big hang up is about it.  No, it may not be everyone's ideal, but we are here, and like it or not, you'd best get used to it and realize that we can be successful or have a family, too, just like anyone who happens to be "straight". 

You won't believe all the discrimination we face.  There have been several instances where Dex has questioned about whether he in the right family or if we should even be together as a couple.  We try to reassure him that yes, he is in the right family, and that he does have two parents, both men, who happen to love him very much; that usually satisfies him. 

Until the next time it happens, that is. 

There's also been times where he's come home from school, just sobbing his heart out, because some kids were picking on him.  Nothing makes me or Joe madder than to see our kids going through so much turmoil.  If we could just convince people that we aren't "going to hell" or "bad", that we are just like any other person in most instances, then the world would be a lot better off, for you, for us, for all involved.

Well, Dex is calling me.  I will see what he wants.  Also, Joe wants to see if we can go take our kids bowling; sounds like a bueno idea.  I will write in here again; until later, this is Royal signing off!  Take care; talk to you soon!

~Sincerely, Royal Griggs (husband to Joe Baker and co-parent to three wonderful sons).  :)