Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Charlotte Robinson: LISTEN: How Gay And Lesbian Couples Become…
New Turnaround Teacher 'Trying To Get It Right' In Tough School
Amazing Mom: Yolande Dumont
Filed under: Adoption, Gay Parenting, Media, Resources, Religion & Spirituality, Amazing Kids, Amazing Parents, Sex
Yolande Dumont with her grandson, Ethan. Dumont Family Photo.
Yolande's Family: Husband: Julien, married 54 years; Kids: Michelle Reese, 51, Ronald, 50, Rene, 47, Raymond, 43
Yolande Lives In: Lewiston, Maine
Why Yolande Is Amazing: Yolande Dumont is decidedly a mother -- not an activist. But when her son asked her to support the Protect Maine Equality campaign, designed to encourage voters to approve same-sex marriage, the mother of four had to step up.
Her loving description of her son's relationship with his partner and their adopted son became one of the cornerstone television ads in the fall 2009 campaign asking Maine voters not to overturn a law allowing gay marriage."When I get to talking about something I feel very strongly, I forget to be shy," she says. "I start speaking through the heart."
In the commercial, Yolande was filmed saying, "I've been a Catholic all my life. My faith means a lot to me. Marriage to me is a great institution that works, and it's what I want for my children, too."
When the ad started appearing, it created a stir within the Catholic community. Brian Burch, the president of the Chicago-based organization CatholicVoteAction.org, characterized it as 'shameless'.
He said the ad suggested that the Catholic Church does not support the traditionally recognized nature of marriage and called it "disingenuous, dishonest, and an insult to the intelligence of Catholic voters in Maine."
In the weeks leading up to the election, where voters ultimately repealed the law allowing same-sex marriage, Yolande and her husband Julien stopped attending services at the Catholic church.
"It's very hard. It hurts," she says. "I miss it."
But the couple felt unwelcome in church where leaders were asking priests to speak out against gay marriage. "I don't feel that I've done anything wrong," she says. "My faith is intact."
Yolande was surprised by how much positive reaction the commercial also received. Friends and family praised her efforts. She only received one hate letter.
Although she's not accustomed to the limelight, Yolande says she felt a duty to let others know how she felt about the issue and its impact on her family. She says she was proud to speak up for her youngest son because she loves him and his partner.
"Raymond is a good person. He's a hard worker. He's raising a family," she says. "I don't feel it's his choice that he's gay. I gave birth to those children. It was my responsibility to raise them and educate them and now I need to be there for them."
Yolande's Son Raymond Says: "She always made us feel strong enough to say exactly what we believe in."
Recognition: Yolande received a phone call from Maine Governor John E. Baldacci thanking her for the work she did on the Protect Maine Equity campaign. She also was recognized at the Equality Maine Annual Dinner.
Yolande's Guilty Pleasures: Friendly's pistachio ice cream and a nip of sherry after dinner.
Yolande's Best Advice: "It's very important to support your children. If your mother doesn't support you, who will?"
Related: Amazing Mom: Lisa Spicknall-Horner
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
- I have twin 4 years olds that will not sleep in their room. How can I get them to sleep, if one settle down the other wakes him up. We have tried sitt...
- I love my 20 year old daughter very much and at times we have a strained relationship. My husband and I recently took our children on an all expenses ...
- What are tthe negatie emotional effects on enabling children and young adults
RelatedVideos
-
Tips and Trick for Traveling with Kids
Traveling can be hectic, but once you add kids in the mix it is almost impossible. In this episode Paige, Gretchen and MommyCast Latina's Aly discuss the different tips and tricks they've learned from their own family travel experiences.
-
Debating the Male Circumcision Ban
To circumcise or not to circumcise a baby? The Doctors debate the pros and cons of the controversial topic.
-
Changes of the Female Body During the Pregnancy
Dr. Georgia Witkin talks to three women about the changes of their body when they were pregnant and they experienced those changes.
-
What to Put in a Diaper Emergency Kit for Your Car
MommyCast Mom, Brooke Peterson, tells you what you simply cannot forget when preparing a diaper emergency kit for your car, including snacks, hand sanitizers, comfort toys and bottled water.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
5-21-2010 @ 1:25PM
Denise said...No one is born as a homosexual for the simple fact that a doctor never told a parent you are the proud parent of a baby homosexual. Parents produce either boys or girls, with the rare exception of a hemorphidate, but they are not considered homosexual. Civil union is for homosexuals. Marriage is for heterosexuals. God designed marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman, and the institution of marriage was formed through the church and belongs to the church. Furthermore, homosexuality is a deviate behavior that in most cases is the result of child molestation. Why should people be allowed to marry because they want to sodomize each other? I don’t see why anyone needs a license to use their genitals and mouth for abnormal activity. What you do in your bedroom is your business. Why would anyone be proud of letting people know that they use their mouth has a receptacle for sperm and other filth that is around the genital and anal area, and like I once heard a talk show host say, “the anal is a exit not a entry.” What a crazy mixed up world we live in today where people are fighting to normalize an abnormal behavior as homosexuality instead of fighting to stop the root cause of homosexuality which in most cases child molestation.
Reply
5-09-2010 @ 6:11PM
jean said...For Denise (the narrow minded one) (the uneducated one) the one that shocked me with her inane statements. Is she for real? She was really stuck on child molestation (and has the info wrong) so I can only surmise she was molested as a child. Her thoughts on homosexuality are so warped. So glad I don't know her.