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Fighting to be a family In countries like Colombia, gay rights advocates are demanding familial rights for same-sex couples.
July 13, 2012
Ana Leiderman, left, and Veronica Botero take Leiderman’s biological offspring, Raquel, 4, and Ari, 2, grocery shopping in Medellin, Colombia.
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July 13, 2012
Raquel jumps in bed with Botero in the early morning to wake her at their house in Medellin. Although Botero’s legal union with Leiderman, the biological mother of their children, is recognized under Colombian law, she does not have familial rights to Raquel and Ari.
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July 13, 2012
Botero, 42, a university professor and engineer, and Leiderman, 43, a textile engineer, make breakfast for the family. The couple is challenging Colombian law that does not recognize Botero as a parent to Leiderman’s children.
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July 13, 2012
Botero has virtually no rights, or legal responsibilities, concerning the children. Botero wouldn’t have rights to custody should Leiderman die. Should Botero die, her estate wouldn’t automatically be passed down to the children.
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July 13, 2012
Leiderman, who gave birth after being artificially inseminated, is recognized under Colombian law as a single parent, even though she is in a legal union with Botero. Should the couple divorce, Botero would have no obligations to the children, and would have no recourse when it comes to visitation.
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July 14, 2012
Raquel plays at her house in Medellin.
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July 13, 2012
Leiderman and Botero were married in 2005 in Germany, where they were living at the time. They didn’t have children until moving back to Colombia.
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July 13, 2012
Family pictures hang on a wall at the Leiderman-Botero home. To Leiderman and Botero, the lack of recognition of them as a family is a case of discrimination. Their contention is being reviewed by Colombia’s highest court.
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July 13, 2012
Botel plays with Raquel at a playground outside of Medellin. “I don’t have rights, and I do not have legal responsibilities,” said Botero. “I want to be recognized.”
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July 13, 2012
The couple’s efforts to win rights have generated a backlash, especially among Colombian church leaders in the predominantly conservative Catholic nation. Leiderman and Botero, however, said they have never faced discrimination or felt uncomfortable.
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July 13, 2012
Raquel and Ari fall asleep after a day at the playground.
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July 14, 2012
From left, Raquel, Botero, Leiderman and Ari have dinner at their home in Medellin, Colombia. The country’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2007 that same-sex couples could form a legal union. Other rulings permitted gay couples access to pension benefits, alimony, inheritance and other rights. Then last year, the court ruled that gay unions constituted a family, opening a legal avenue for gay rights advocates to use in their fight for adoption rights. Now, the court is mulling over Leiderman and Botero’s case.
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July 14, 2012
Leiderman brushes her children's teeth and gets them ready for bed. “I never dreamed in my wildest dream that I would be in a case like this,” said Leiderman, talking about the suit, which is now more than two years old. “But when you are really committed you go to whatever length is necessary.”
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July 14, 2012
Leiderman says good night to Raquel. Leiderman says she and Botero live ordinary lives that revolve around demanding jobs and raising Raquel and Ari. “For every flamboyant hairdresser, there are probably 10 families just like ours, that don’t look different, don’t sound any different,” Leiderman said. “I don’t have an L tattooed on my forehead.”
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