Miguel Sanchez: «As a cis gay man, adoption is the fairest, most sustainable and socially responsible way to form a family that I conceive«
Miguel Sanchez and Ismael Mena It only took them 15 months to become parents, when the average waiting time in this autonomous community is nine years, according to data from the Coordinator of Adoption and Foster Care Associations (CORA). They were willing to adopt more than one minor, between zero and five years old, and they did not care if they suffered from a chronic illness or some type of disability, because these are situations that they would also have accepted in a biological child, they say.
«It must be clear that the adoption process does not revolve around the desire to be parents, but rather the needs of a child to be protected and have a family.«, they add. This flexibility streamlined all procedures. The December 28April Fool's Day, they received a call that would change their lives.
The social services of Castilla y León -the region where they reside in Spain- informed them that they could become parents, as long as they were willing to adopt three sisters who were only six weeks old. In half an hour they had already decided to be parents of triplets. Surely they had not imagined that the little ones use about 750 diapers a month and that the cost of milk would amount to about 300 euros per month.
This is how they describe it in the report that they made Maria García Arenales for BBC World. Now they understand the importance of having a support network: «It is not necessary to have a very high salary or a permanent job. Things such as the environment, network possibilities or family help are valued. It is a more comprehensive vision because the objective is for you to be able to guarantee the well-being of creatures and meet their needs.s," says Miguel.
parents of triplets
Initially Michael and Ishmael considered other options to form a family, such as international adoption, but in addition to being an expensive process, many countries do not allow homosexual people to adopt, as is the case in China, Hungary or Russia. They also ruled out gestational surrogacy, surrogacy, because it was not only an economic problem. «Having to use the body of a poor woman with an economic transaction involved did not seem like the best option.«, summarize both.
Miguel himself, @parasynthetic on Twitter, argued for the choice on his networks. «I have said it and will repeat it as many times as necessary: As a cis gay man, adoption is the fairest, most sustainable and socially responsible way to form a family that I conceive“He tweeted after announcing his recent paternity.
Both have it clearer than ever: «Forming a family is not based so much on the biological or genetic, but on the choice of people who decide to love each other and live together«.
