Slog
News & ArtsFriday, May 8, 2009
Hetero Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, May 8, 2009 at 8:36 AM
A mother of nine who was arrested after authorities found a dead fetus stored in the refrigerator of her trash-strewn home was convicted Thursday of child injury and child endangerment.... Gloria Ramirez faces up to 10 years in prison on the injury charge and up to two years for each endangerment charge.Police arrived at the 28-year-old's home in 2007 after her husband called a funeral home to ask about a casket for a fetus she had miscarried. They found rodents, roaches, dirty diapers stacked in closets, moldy food and trash covering most floors, and the fetus inside a white baby wipe box in the refrigerator.... Ramirez's oldest child testified Wednesday that her mother threatened her life and her siblings' lives if they told anyone about the filthy conditions. The 11-year-old also told jurors that her mother showed the dead fetus to all the children and blamed them for the miscarriage "because we weren't letting her get any sleep."
Gloria Ramirez is pregnant with her tenth child. Her other children are in foster care. The Texas house of representatives voted overwhelmingly in 2005 to ban gay people from serving as foster parents to "protect... vulnerable children," and because, "God created man, and he created woman, and he created marriage." The bill died in the Texas senate after lawmakers were confronted with the difficulties and expense of finding new homes for the 3000 children in Texas that had already been placed in the homes of gay foster parents on top of finding foster parents for the thousands of children that were still waiting for placements.
3
This has nothing to do with immigration. Please don't make it sound that way. It is an insult to the good parents from Mexico.
5
Good Lord, didn't Mr Savage post yesterday that one of his biggest regrets on his latest appearance on Larry King Live was the he did not recommend underage abortions as an option for teen pregnancies?
Thanks for the revolting image though, almost lost my breakfast.
Thanks for the revolting image though, almost lost my breakfast.
9
Thanks for posting that additional bit about foster homes - it confirmed what I was thinking as I was reading the article - that there are people who think that kids are better off with their 'natural' parents or a male/female couple and as such overlook or give a pass to those adults, while denying caring and responsible same-sex couples of giving those children healthy conditions (physically and emotionally healthy) under which they could thrive.
Denying good, safe, and healthy homes to children in need is a form of child abuse, just as sure as what those parents were doing.
Denying good, safe, and healthy homes to children in need is a form of child abuse, just as sure as what those parents were doing.
10
5, Maybe you should consider moving on to a blog that addresses the tragedy that is family life in your demographic, and stop worrying about the gay folks? Oh, right, then you'd actually have to acknowledge, and do something of value instead of this hateful, worthless crusade to keep rights from others. Hating gays is easier than helping your own community, right?
11
Clearly the woman is mentally challenged. Either by ignorance or severe depression or all of the above.
13
@11 - did you mean the woman in the article or LC?
Really, I wasn't sure which you meant.
But upon reflection I took it to mean the woman in the article - though those reasons really wouldn't begin to cover that sort of behavior.
Really, I wasn't sure which you meant.
But upon reflection I took it to mean the woman in the article - though those reasons really wouldn't begin to cover that sort of behavior.
14
12 Thanks Baconcat, I was born in TX but I no longer reside there not from Lubbock though I'm from the east. Are you from Lubbock?
15
This story just underscores that just because someone can breed doesn't mean that they should breed.
For all the faults that foster care and child protective services may have, there is at least (supposed to be) some oversight and vetting of the homes where the children are being placed.
A foster home situation, whether that home was headed by one adult or two, gay or straight, is preferable to the conditions and psychological abuse that those children were forced to endure.
Too much store is put on the concept that being of a certain sex or gender determines the type of caregiver one will be. Just as too much consideration is given to the concept that just because an adult has a biological tie to the child that they are automatically a better guardian or parent.
For all the faults that foster care and child protective services may have, there is at least (supposed to be) some oversight and vetting of the homes where the children are being placed.
A foster home situation, whether that home was headed by one adult or two, gay or straight, is preferable to the conditions and psychological abuse that those children were forced to endure.
Too much store is put on the concept that being of a certain sex or gender determines the type of caregiver one will be. Just as too much consideration is given to the concept that just because an adult has a biological tie to the child that they are automatically a better guardian or parent.
16
12, Sorry, but I have to admit that her god hates fags routine, be it lightly disguised, and more gently delivered than the Westburo Baptists, annoys me.
17
10
We have noticed that "anonymous long-posting white supremacist guy" quit posting at the same time that Rob became all "black demographic group.." with LovesChild.
Coincidence?
.
.
.
there are no coincidences
We have noticed that "anonymous long-posting white supremacist guy" quit posting at the same time that Rob became all "black demographic group.." with LovesChild.
Coincidence?
.
.
.
there are no coincidences
18
17, I have never posted under any other names, and unlike you, do not need to hide behind anonymous comments.
19
18
Perhaps you have not noticed but Slog has instituted registration (praise the maker!) and you are addressing a registered commenter.
Perhaps you have not noticed but Slog has instituted registration (praise the maker!) and you are addressing a registered commenter.
20
I have to say, I get your point, Rob. And, I agree Loveschild's time would like be better spent addressing the fact that 50% of marriages fail. Still, I think you have more to offer than hounding someone who has preconceived ideas on equal rights for gay Americans. Don't keep banging your head on a brick wall.
22
19, Although it's been shown that it is easy to fake register at this time, an issue they are working out, I'll take your word for it. Again, I've never posted under any other name, and stand by what I have posted, even if it bothers you. Stating verifiable statistics isn't racist. The numbers may be hard to face, which is why some people bury their heads in the anti-gay marriage side of the debate, they are not racist.
23
20, You are right. I do tend to get a bit too impassioned, and I need to save that energy for something more important than trying to get LC to face the facts, something she's obviously never going to do.
24
Way to be off topic, Loveschild.
Still, since your hung up on abortion now. You'll be happy to know that from 1974-2004 the number of women under the age of 18 has decreased from 15% to 6%. Unfortunately, the deomographic which have increased their numbers of abortions are women 20 to 30, and 30+. Also, there has been marked increased in mothers seeking abortion for subsequent pregnancies. Of course, you probably already know that women of color make up the majority of those seeking abortions, in 2004, 28 abortions per 1,000 Hispanic women and 50 per 1,000 for African American women. Clearly, the issue of poverty, lack of affordable birth control and the lack of affordable health care needs to be addressed. If we really want to decrease the number of abortions performed in this country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con…
Still, since your hung up on abortion now. You'll be happy to know that from 1974-2004 the number of women under the age of 18 has decreased from 15% to 6%. Unfortunately, the deomographic which have increased their numbers of abortions are women 20 to 30, and 30+. Also, there has been marked increased in mothers seeking abortion for subsequent pregnancies. Of course, you probably already know that women of color make up the majority of those seeking abortions, in 2004, 28 abortions per 1,000 Hispanic women and 50 per 1,000 for African American women. Clearly, the issue of poverty, lack of affordable birth control and the lack of affordable health care needs to be addressed. If we really want to decrease the number of abortions performed in this country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con…
30
24 Your (hypocritical) concern over quality of life issues for the African American community is not fooling me and is completely unmasked for what it is when you express your agreement with Rob. People like you have always felt the way you do, you just have veiled it but it comes out whenever African Americans are not submissive to your will. Our concern are much broader and important than your egoistic veiled racist 'gay' rights.
Keep on that horse cause I see the likes of Rob and you for what you truly are.
Keep on that horse cause I see the likes of Rob and you for what you truly are.
32
Loveschild, your ignorance and own racism continues to amaze me. You are a blight on the human race.
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24, Kim, Did you really think she'd acknowledge actual facts? No, it's easier for Loveschild to hate one group to feel better about your own, without doing anything to help anyone.
34
31, If you haven't figured it out, maybe it's for the better. I don't want to encourage such things. Forget I mentioned it.
35
Um, not to interrupt the off-topic troll feeding, but to return to the original article...
Fuck. Just...fuck. Someone explain to me why people like that can't be forcibly sterilized?
Fuck. Just...fuck. Someone explain to me why people like that can't be forcibly sterilized?
39
Loveschild,
You always result to the faux-marytr story. Point to the truth about actual abortion facts, and you scream the racist card. It doesn't matter, I have lovely heterosexual African American family members, who don't share your views about me or your separate but equal rights for all Americans.
Your forgiven.
You always result to the faux-marytr story. Point to the truth about actual abortion facts, and you scream the racist card. It doesn't matter, I have lovely heterosexual African American family members, who don't share your views about me or your separate but equal rights for all Americans.
Your forgiven.
40
Geni @ 35,
No, idea. Nor do I think I could support forced sterilization.
It is a terrible tragedy and I feel very sorry for those children.
No, idea. Nor do I think I could support forced sterilization.
It is a terrible tragedy and I feel very sorry for those children.
42
She started young and just kept going. Want to bet she had abstinence only sex "education" at school? What kind of a family she grew up in is scary to contemplate. Let's hope those kids end up with decent foster parents.
44
@3 - you obviously don't live anywhere near a neighborhood that is majority-mexican, let alone one that is 80% illegal alien mexican (neighborhood watch / cop estimate) like I do, therefore you are TOTALLY NAIVE. Just another NAIVE white-guilt Seattle liberal who doesn't know what the fuck you are writing about.
Domestic violence, child abuse, animal abuse, house abuse, yard abuse, these are all just an everyday part of the illegal mexican "rich vibrant culture".
Most mexicans are EVEN MORE "REDNECK" than the white rednecks you naive white Seattle liberals hate so much. Wake the fuck up to reality.
Domestic violence, child abuse, animal abuse, house abuse, yard abuse, these are all just an everyday part of the illegal mexican "rich vibrant culture".
Most mexicans are EVEN MORE "REDNECK" than the white rednecks you naive white Seattle liberals hate so much. Wake the fuck up to reality.
46
Didn't Ricky Santorum (R-PA) share his dead fetus with his young children? I don't think they ate it...but you never now.
47
Forced sterilization can sound tempting when you read stories like this, but the catch is, who gets to decide what qualifies you? I feel like it could backfire easily on us. But I'm all for forced pre-natal education about culturally competent, scientifically supported parenting techniques. Can't lose there...
48
My wife works as a psychotherapist with foster kids in Texas. As such there is a tiny chance that she might end up as one or more of these kid's therapist (all kids in foster care have counseling available to them in Texas). One of the foster families she works with is headed by a lesbian couple. Those kids have not yet lost their chance to be in a family with gay parents.
49
@44 - "Yard abuse"? Good god, say it isn't so! Not yard abuse! Oh, the horror. Won't someone PLEASE think of the YARDS?
51
I couldn't support forced sterilization, but i could get on-board with procreation licensing. Maybe give every newborn girl a birth control implant that can only be removed upon completion of parenting courses, mental health evaluation, drug screen and a credit check to make sure that you can afford the child you are about to have.
53
lol @ 44:
Facts? Sociological studies? Actually meeting/knowing some of the people I'm talking about?
Naw. That's just a buncha Seattle white liberal guilt shit.
See, I live next to some of them mexicans, and they's yards is DIRTY! Y'all's don't's lives next to them like I do, so y'all's don't know the horror of an unmowed lawn. But I've seen it. I've looked over the picket fence. And the shit I've seen... that shit will change a man...
Facts? Sociological studies? Actually meeting/knowing some of the people I'm talking about?
Naw. That's just a buncha Seattle white liberal guilt shit.
See, I live next to some of them mexicans, and they's yards is DIRTY! Y'all's don't's lives next to them like I do, so y'all's don't know the horror of an unmowed lawn. But I've seen it. I've looked over the picket fence. And the shit I've seen... that shit will change a man...
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