I'm watching the news and thinking about all my friends and family on the East Coast as Hurricane Sandy is about to strike. On the news, I'm hearing all about the things that people need to do to prepare themselves for natural disasters such as this. Yes, LGBT people need to stock up on essentials and heed any warnings or evacuation notices by their local governments, but they might also be leery of heading to emergency shelters because their relationships might not be recognized by the shelter staff. What if the nearest shelter is in a traditionally homophobic church? How will you be treated? Will you and your partner be able to stay together? Or what if you're forced to leave your state where your relationship is legally recognized and take shelter in one of the places where gay and lesbian couples have very few legal rights? What are some things gays and lesbians can do to ensure that they're not only safe, but that their relationships are recognized in times of emergency?
© beth tusch