MY FRIENDS DANTE AND DANIEL.

I have just hanged the phone. My client DANTE has just called me. He said: “Dra. me quedé solito”. He told me that his husband had died one week ago, from Cancer. It was quite shocking for me.

All kind of images came to my mind. Beautiful, funny, joyful memories, related to their marriage and the subsequent party, two years ago.

Dante had been my client for more than 11 years: I had fought for him against discrimination. I had made him cash compensation damages for an unfair dismissal, due to the fact that he had been discriminated for being sick of HIV and for being a Homosexual.

Later on, he settled down with his boyfriend and begun a period of happiness. They worked a lot in a KIOSK of their own, and they begun to be recognized by many people due to their commitment, hard work and enormous kindness.

In 2010 the Government passed a law, allowing them to marry.  They decided to marry in order to bless their union, and at the same time, in order to ensure their rights and celebrate their profound love. They invited us. My husband and I went to their wedding celebration and really enjoyed it. We got to know all their family.

It was clear that this couple had had a real struggle in life in order to live in peace.  A video was shown during the party:  Dante and Daniel had been obliged to face all sorts of difficulties. But they were married by then. They were happy as husband and husband.

Later on, they both came to my office:  the VIH was stealthily invading the body of Daniel (this time) and he was subject to all kind of subsequent illnesses.  Pneumonia, and after that, one type of Cancer, were trying to conquer Daniel and his weak strengths.  Along with that, their social insurance did not want to provide for the medicines... it was terrible.  We had to work hard (legally), to fight again, in order to enforce the rights of Daniel. (This time, Daniel, not Dante).

But at present, Daniel has died.

 Dante feels quite lonely. “Solito”. I feel so sorry for him. He is more than a client, he is my friend. I have to help him again.

My reflection coincides with what I felt at the time of their celebration:  The Act the Government passed on 2010 was SO right! It allowed for the needs of so many people who were treated so far as pariahs!   My friends had at least the opportunity to be respected as a formal couple for three years. Along with that, a new Paradigm has leached into the people’s mind:   All of us are equals and have the same rights, regardless of our sexual orientation.