‘Pence’s hateful laws almost kept me from my dying wife’
With so much focus on Trump, we’ve barely scratched the surface on Mike Pence.
Click here for reuse options!Amy Sandler was a plaintiff in Baskin v. Bogan, which challenged Indiana’s denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples while Vice President-elect Mike Pence was governor.
As a resident of Indiana for five years, I got to know Governor Mike Pence better than the average Indiana constituent. Now that he is about to be our next vice president, I want all Americans to know exactly how he treated my family when my wife, Niki, was dying of ovarian cancer.
I want everyone to know the type of man he is—the type of things he is capable of…
Niki and I joined a lawsuit filed by the LGBT advocacy group Lambda Legal, Baskin v. Bogan, so that the State of Indiana would recognize our marriage.
When a federal trial court ordered Indiana to recognize our marriage on an emergency basis because of Niki’s declining health, Governor Pence immediately appealed. He wouldn’t allow the state to protect even one family with a dying parent—my family—while the court case made its way through the legal system.
After the Baskin plaintiffs won a sweeping victory, ordering the state of Indiana to recognize our marriages and give all same-sex couples the right to marry, Pence again appealed and the court put our victory on hold. Given Niki’s grave health, our lawyers asked the court to lift the stay on an emergency basis, just for our family. But even that wasn’t acceptable to Pence—a lawyer for the state filed papers in opposition.
Ultimately, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Indiana was violating our constitutional rights by enforcing its same-sex marriage ban.
Niki passed away shortly after our marriage victory.
Despite all that she was going through late in her life, my wife never stopped fighting for gay and lesbian Hoosiers. She never stopped fighting Pence. Niki spoke out publicly about her medical challenges. She shared our fear of being denied emergency treatment at our local hospital, since we had already been denied a simple family gym membership at the facilities.
But while Niki and I beat Pence to win the freedom to marry, the governor’s crusade against LGBT Hoosiers was only beginning.
Copyright 2016 Liberaland
12 responses to ‘Pence’s hateful laws almost kept me from my dying wife’
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Suzanne McFly November 21st, 2016 at 21:42
I think the selection of Pence proves trump knew exactly what he was doing. Just the thought that the removal of him would give up Pence scares the hell out of most of us.
Bunya November 22nd, 2016 at 13:26
I know, right? People were hoping to impeach Trump, but if that’s successful, we get Pence – and Sharia law.
This can’t be right. The election must’ve been rigged. Why would women, especially, vote for Trump? OMG! It makes no sense.
Suzanne McFly November 22nd, 2016 at 15:24
I know, and supposedly a lot of women did. Makes no damn sense. Have they been living under a rock for the last 2 years? How have they not seen and heard what rump has said and done?
crc3 November 21st, 2016 at 23:23
Pence is closer to a Hitler type than is Rump because he knows the ins and outs of politics. Rump is a wheeler-dealer who cheats the system. These are dangerous times…
nola878 November 21st, 2016 at 23:24
I’ll put up with a lot of sh*t from a Rump/Pence administration, but the moment they try to infringe on my Baby Girl’s civil rights, I’ll go f*cking ballistic.
whatthe46 November 21st, 2016 at 23:30
you just jogged my memory. isn’t her 1 yr anniversary? if it’s 2, then damn time flies by.
nola878 November 21st, 2016 at 23:40
You’re a real sweetheart for remembering…yes, 1st anniversary was July 4th.
I’m very touched. Thank you.
whatthe46 November 21st, 2016 at 23:47
you’re quite welcome sweetie. did you guys throw a big party?!!
MBJR November 22nd, 2016 at 00:13
More in depth discussion on Pence.
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/11/21/jeremy_scahill_mike_pence_has_militant
Red Eye Robot November 22nd, 2016 at 06:21
Im betting this woman knows Joe Soptic
whatthe46 November 22nd, 2016 at 06:44
i’m betting you don’t know a damn thing about either of them. i’m also betting you don’t know a damn thing about pence other than he’s an ass like yourself. he wants electro shock therapy for gays/lesbians, he had a woman jailed because of a miscarriage, he wants mother’s/parents of miscarriages to provide funeral services, he neglected those of HIV to have treatment and then some. but, hey, you don’t give a damn about anyone other than yourself. tRump has, with the blessing of the RWNJ’s to end time & 1/2 for working longer hours if you earn less than 47k a year. do you even realize how many families that would affect. 20mil. their plan is also to end head of households for single parents. if you fall under either category, you deserve what you get. if you have a family member, sister, brother, etc., etc., falling under this category, tell them you didn’t give a damn about them. chances are they voted the same as you against your own best interest.
p.s. i’m betting, you’re an inbred.
Budda November 22nd, 2016 at 07:11
Compassion is the root of all morality and I bet you have neither.