Four by Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen: “Bill”
Be sure to check out my favorite column so far of Jarko De Witte van Leewen’s “Four” series called “Bill.” He dedicates this column “to all the brave people who fight for equal rights for GLBT people and couples, and who don’t give up the fight in times of hardship.”
Here is a excerpt:
“We were in our car, driving to the place where a video conference would link us to the family court of Camden County, Pennsylvania for the finalization hearing regarding the adoption of our son Wolf, when I got this SMS from Philip: ‘Yay, we did it! The Senate has passed the bill!’ Two simple sentences that brought silence to my heart, and a smile to my face. “The Senate has passed the bill, Jos,” I said to my husband. It was raining and he was focusing on the road.”
To read more: Four by Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen: “Bill”
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About: Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen:
Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen was born as Jarko De Witte on April 1, 1970 in Ghent, Belgium. He studied English and Spanish at the Polytechnic School for Translators and Interpreters in Ghent and graduated cum laude at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. In 1989, at age 19 Jarko met his husband Jos van Leeuwen at the Dutch Gay Pride in Haarlem, The Netherlands. In 1991 they moved in together from their parental homes. For that purpose Jarko moved to Jos’s city of birth: Dordrecht, in The Netherlands. In 1993 Jarko started working as a translator and later on communication consultant with Hewitt Associates. In 1995 he gave up his Belgian nationality and became Dutch. In 2001, the year when same sex marriage was legalized in The Netherlands, Jarko and Jos got married on the day they had been together for exactly twelve years. They decide to merge their family names to De Witte van Leeuwen. After returning from their honeymoon, Jarko started working as a communication consultant and public relations officer to the City Board of his hometown Dordrecht. At the same time they start their adoption journey. Jarko is a driven political lobbyist fighting for joint international adoption rights for same sex couples. In 2007 the Dutch Parliament passes the bill to enable this with an overwhelming 90 percent majority. In September 2005, Jos and Jarko adopt their daughter Arwen at age 1 and a half weeks old. Arwen was born in New York City, NY. In February 2008, they adopt their son Wolf, at age 4 weeks. Wolf was born in Philadelphia, PA. Jarko has written several articles and columns on various topics including adoption and gay parenting for various media. He has recently written and illustrated the children’s book, Arwen and her daddies, about the adoption of their daughter Arwen. Several publishers in The Netherlands, the US and the UK have shown interest. Jarko hopes to have his book published in 2009. Meanwhile, he has started working on other titles. Jarko, Jos, Arwen and Wolf happily live together in their wonderful home in a national monument located at one of the inner harbours in the historic town centre of Dordrecht.
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