My name is JOE HOGUE, and I am a divorced gay father. For the past 6 years I have been battling with my ex-wife to be a part of my son's life. I am currently fighting for full custody after a constant struggle to see and talk to him on a regular basis. My struggle has even gone so far as me being sentenced to jail for telling my son that I was gay back in 2002, and most horribly, my 9 year old son was put on the stand to testify.
My Son and I have always had a great relationship! He truly is the apple of my eye. His friends would always say things like "You have the coolest father" or "I wish I had a dad like yours". Essentially, I believe our Father-Son relationship is as strong as any Father and Son would hope for.
However, like many children that go through divorce, I'm worried he's in a situation where our relationship is being COMPLETELY discouraged. Most recently, I purchased a plane ticket for him to come visit me in California from Florida for our regularly scheduled June visit, but he was not put on the plane. I haven't seen him since Christmas 2006, and now I won't be allowed to see him until Christmas 2007. I miss him and have no choice but to fight for his sake! He doesn't deserve to be alienated from his Father.
FUND RAISER
As a gay parent, I feel that I have faced discrimination by the courts during my divorce. Thanks to the ACLU, I was able to victoriously appeal my jail sentence to the Tennessee Supreme Court. I don't know what I would have done without them! So a good portion of the proceeds from this fund raiser will be donated to the ACLU. It is certainly the LEAST I can do. Solely because I am gay, I was sentenced to jail and have since gone bankrupt trying to recover from this INJUSTICE by our very own JUSTICE SYSTEM. So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to the ACLU for fighting for mine and ALL of our civil liberties!
While it’s hard asking strangers for help (especially monetary assistance), I do not have the luxury of pride when it comes to fighting to keep a relationship with my son.
So I am asking for your HELP. If you can provide support of ANY kind (donations for legal fees, press, fund raising, etc…), it would be greatly appreciated.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
1. Donations through PayPal (accepts credit cards)Every Little bit Helps!
2. Press or Publicity
3. Participation in our E-Bay Auction . Items being donated for the auctioned include:
-Tom Petty -Autographed Tom Petty Guitar
-Michael Jackson -Autographed CD
-Penny Marshall/Cindy Williams -Autographed "Laverne & Shirley" DVDs (1st & 2nd season)
-Sally Fields, Calista Flockhart, Ron Rifkin & cast -Signed First Episode Script from the new ABC show "Brothers & Sisters"
-Linda Gray -Autographed Third season DVD of "Dallas"
-Harold Becker(director) -Autographed DVD of "Sea of Love"
-Dave Koz -Complete autographed collection of Dave Koz albums, a signed photo, and a signed saxophone Reed
-William Shatner -Signed Star Trek Photos
-We also have committed items from Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Carrie Fisher, Robert Wagner, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lorraine Bracco "The Sopranos", Bill Condon "DreamGirls,Chicago", Rebecca De Mornay "Risky Business", Kate Jackson "Charlie's Angels", Sally Kellerman "MASH", Ann Margret "Viva Los Vegas", Marilu Henner, Delta Burke, Wayne Newton, Stan Lee, Sharon Stone, Daryl Hannah, Rosie O'donnell and more...
DETAILS COMING SOON!
*If you have any items that you want to donate for the auction let us know!
4. Spread the Word! (add this profile to your "Top Friends" , post a Bulletin, forward this profile to friends etc...)
5. Purchase songs from Snocap posted to the left(double-click to preview). As a writer and producer, this is the best way that I can give back for your support!
6. Simply a word of encouragement!
Thank You!
