The Loss of Sarah

Some things put me on a soapbox. I have to remember that a soapbox is not always the best place to be when these things happen -- but I'm outraged, nonetheless! Below I've copied a letter word for word from the Executive Director of the Family Pride Coalition so we can all get a clear idea of this tragedy. She does it so much better than me.

The Family Pride Coalition according to their mission "has for 25 years been the only national non-profit organization solely dedicated to equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) parents and their families. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., FPC supports nearly 200 membership-based LGBT parenting groups nationwide with a base of 35,000 supporters."

The Family Pride Coalition deputy executive director, Corri Plank, and her partner, Diane Hardy Garcia have dedicated themselves to being foster parents. Last April their first foster daughter was removed from their home and returned to her aunt and uncle due to a referree of the court's decision that this was the best thing for the child -- even though Sarah's aunt and uncle had been suspected of abusing her. In October, Sarah was beaten to death (according to prosecutors) by that same aunt and uncle.

Do I need say anything more? Oh. I will say one thing more. You too can become a member of The Family Pride Coalition .


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Dear Families,

I am writing to you today to share with you the news about a horrific story that has very personally and deeply impacted one of our Family Pride staff members and her family.


Many of you know Corri Planck, our deputy executive director, and her work on behalf of Family Pride over the past four years. Recently, she and her partner, Dianne Hardy-Garcia, lost their first child in a tragic and violent way that continues to shock so many of us.


Yesterday, the story of what happened to their first foster daughter, Sarah, appeared on the front page of the Los Angeles Times.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-foster13feb13,0,7728594.story?coll=la-headlines-california

Corri and Dianne have worked tirelessly with Los Angeles County and child welfare officials to ensure that the truth of what happened to Sarah was revealed. Even today, they continue to push the system to look at every institution that failed Sarah along the way – the courts, the hospitals and the Department of Children and Family Services. Because of their work, I know that qualified people will continue to find places in their hearts and homes for these wonderful children who so desperately need safe, stable and loving homes and that the system will be better able to protect these children.


Today, I ask you to share this story with as many people as possible – to show the world what we already know as LGBT parents – that what is best for a child is a safe, loving, stable environment. And most importantly, I ask you to share this story so that Sarah’s memory may live on, so that we shed light on social service systems that fail our most vulnerable, and so that something good might come from something so tragic.

I also ask you to hold Corri and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Executive Director
Family Pride

Family Pride is the only national non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families.