Loading...
Loading...
On-Air Promo Creative 115x175
|| TELEVISION ||
1 2 3 NEXT  Page 1 of 3

My Two Dads

A gay couple open their doors -- and their hearts -- to an anti-gay adoption activist on FX’s 30 Days.



We’re always skeptical about reality shows that promise to change perceptions, but unlike The Real World,Trading Spouses,Amish in the City, et al, FX’s 30 Days tends to take the high road. Produced and narrated by Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock, the series has brought an unemployed programmer to his outsourced job in Bangalore, a pro-choice woman to an anti-abortion clinic, and a straight Christian into the heart of the Castro. Partners Dennis and Thomas Patrick must have had a good feeling about the show too: For the June 24 episode, “Same Sex Parenting,” they invited Kati, a 40-something straight mom who thinks gays and lesbians shouldn’t be allowed to have kids, to come live with them and their four adopted sons -- for an entire month. Were eyes opened and fences mended -- or did the two sides drift even further apart? To find out, The Advocate contacted Dennis and Thomas, who spoke to us from their Ypsilanti, Mich., home. 

THIRY DAYS 2 DADS X 395 (FX PUBLICITY) | ADVOCATE.COM

What possessed you to get involved with the show?
Dennis: Well, they came to us -- they must have found an interview I did online. We didn’t have a burning desire to be on reality TV, but I thought it was a real opportunity to make a difference. I said if someone stayed with us for just one day, they would see how loving our family is. And we thought we could get more gays to think about adopting or fostering children. There are 500,000 kids in foster care and 110,000 waiting to be adopted.

Thomas: I was more reluctant. It seemed like one more intrusion in our lives. It was the end of summer and school was starting up. [Laughs] But Dennis kind of blackmailed me into it.

Dennis: I told Tom if we didn’t do it, I was gonna be really depressed and no fun to be around.

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. 1 2 3 NEXT  Page 1 of 3
Reader Comments
  • Name: prisca ekkens
    Date posted: 6/30/2008 4:22:00 AM
    Hometown: nyc

    Comment:

    i just watched the encore episode of 30 days featuring Dennis and Thomas Patrick, and their four adopted children. i'm not writing to focus on Kati's bigoted attitude against gay adoption, although it's hard, because i feel much anger towards her. i pledge instead to support the gay community, and any legislation that recognizes and protects the rights all United States citizens, gay or not. i just had to put it out there. -- prisca ekkens

  • Name: Rick
    Date posted: 6/24/2008 10:49:00 PM
    Hometown: Charlotte, NC

    Comment:

    Using Christianity in arguments like this is pointless. What Jesus supposedly said wasn't even written down until more than 30 years after he died. And that was changed over and over again until the New Testament was finally created hundreds of years later. So who really knows what Jesus actually said? Nobody does.

  • Name: Philip Rogan
    Date posted: 6/9/2008 8:15:00 AM
    Hometown: Dublin

    Comment:

    Well I think it's really simple. Love or hate. These men love their kids and each other and the lady that was brave enough to come and stay with them was finally not brave enough to let go of her prejudices that were taught to her by those that use religon as a reason to hate. Gay men and women are no better or no worse than anybody else and we simply need to see it like that - forget God in this equation, love your neighbour but you don't have to if he's an Ass...

  • Name: Sorcha
    Date posted: 6/7/2008 5:40:00 PM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Okay, since some people can't grasp that not everyone is Christian in the first place, how about this: Jesus Christ never once mentioned homosexuality. Either you believe that he made the New Covenant with us by his sacrifice, in which case the Old Testament laws laid out in Deuteronomy are null and void, or you don't, in which case you should keep those laws yourself before you condemn other people for not doing so. If that's the case. you better give up cheeseburgers, shrimp cocktail, and clothing made from more than one type of fiber. As Christians, we're meant to live Christ's example, not spend our time hating and judging other people. Jesus called. He wants his religion back.

  • Name: TransmanandWife
    Date posted: 6/6/2008 9:19:00 AM
    Hometown: South East Texas

    Comment:

    Dear Daniel Please shut the heck up. Don't take the name of Jesus Christ and use it to bash people that he loves too. Jesus loves EVERYONE not just you and your narrow minded judgmental clones. Family is about love and commitment and these two men have portrayed that on many levels. My wife and I have also adopted several children and have been foster parents to many, many others. Children need family and good families come in many different packages. Since you are so upset Daniel maybe you should pray for understanding instead of spouting your hateful garbage. God is love.



More Online Only
  • Art Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Que Duong

    A fortune-teller told Que Duong's mother he would amount to nothing — which is why he gives everything he has to each photo he takes.

  • Music Thicke and Juicy

    Sexy soul singer Robin Thicke opens up about his Precious wife, homophobia in the music industry, and the gay men who’ve shaped his life and love since childhood. 

  • Internet Herman on Why He Wants to Stop H8

    Fitness trainer, Real World alum, and marriage equality advocate Scott Herman took some time between crunches to tell The Advocate that his concern for gay rights isn't manufactured, and he doesn't mind men checking him out.

  • News Celebration of Courage Not So Courageous

    Advocate contributor Michael Lucas says the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs to be doing more to stop violence against gays and lesbians in countries "oppressed by Islam."

  • Commentary The Truth Behind Her Name Was Steven

    Advocate contributor Eden Lane says CNN's Her Name Was Steven will help raise the visibility of trans people on TV, but the most compelling part of Susan Stanton's journey was left to a title card at the end of the film.

  • Television Laverne, Surely

    I Want to Work for Diddy alum Laverne Cox leads a trio of transgender ladies in VH1’s Transform Me, a new makeover show that flatters her hooker-heavy résumé.

  • Music Cherie’s Jubilee

    With The Runaways, the new film about her life with Joan Jett, pioneering rock star Cherie Currie is enjoying a renaissance ... with a little help from Dakota Fanning.

  • Activism Sex-Ed Student Turns Teen Activist

    When sex education classes at Danny Sparks's high school failed to address the issues important to him, he took matters into his own hands ... and became an activist in the process.

  • Photography Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Ryan Colford

    From his "candy shoppe" line — sweet treats made oh-so sexy — to his black and white studies of the male form, photographer Ryan Colford exposes the beauty of the male body.

  • Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

    COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

  • Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

    Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

  • News Video Content Flag Kids Say the Darndest Things

    Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see. 

  • Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

    With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

1037 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM