A House Is Not a Home by James Earl Hardy

least he has a family that will stick up for and stand by him instead of joining the chorus.
    He’s been with them for three years; he now calls Babyface “Daddy” (he started referring to B.D. as “Uncle” the night they met). He hasn’t asked about or for his natural father since the adoption—and, unfortunately, the same can be said for Claude when it comes to Korey. (Only Geraldine sends him birthday cards, Christmas presents, and calls twice a month.) Claude has remarried and has two more children, one of them “a real boy” (as he snickered to Geraldine). Chances are Korey will never know his half brother and sister.
    The entire family has become media darlings. Last year they made it on the cover of U.S. News & World Report , under the heading THE NEW AMERICAN FAMILY. Of course, there is nothing “new” about it: Black SGL people have been assuming the roles of guardian and caretaker for generations, long before Caucasian queer men decided adoption was the new “in” thing—and Babyface and B.D. made this point on Good Morning America and The O’Reilly Factor . They also made the host of the latter program visibly uncomfortable by, as he put it, “flaunting their homosexuality” (they held hands during the broadcast; B.D. let O’Reilly know that he was uncomfortable with O’Reilly flaunting his ignorance). O’Reilly certainly would have gone to a commercial break if they’d been hugged up the way they were this evening.
    Gene is disturbed by their being affectionate, but for an entirely different reason: he’s still the reigning King of the Love Don’t Live Here Anymore Club. “Will you two cut that shit out?” he groaned.
    B.D. motioned toward Gene’s drink. “There must be Haterade in that glass.”
    Babyface chuckled. “Hey, Mitch.”
    â€œHey, you two.” Mitchell kissed and hugged them both.
    â€œDarling, I’m used to this one being unfashionably late because he is late, but not you,” observed B.D.
    â€œDon’t get it twisted, sister ,” Gene snarled.
    Mitchell settled in his seat. “Sorry. Did you two order yet?”
    Babyface lifted his very empty glass. “Nope.”
    Gene sucked his teeth. “That child still has not returned? He’s supposed to be waiting on us, we’re not supposed to be waiting on him.”
    Babyface surveyed the room. “He’ll come back once he realizes we’re the only ones in here who want to order food.”
    â€œDid you get the kiddies off?” B.D. asked Mitchell.
    â€œYes. And what about your kiddie?”
    â€œHe’s with his grandmother this weekend.”
    â€œAh. And how is your mom?” B.D.’s mother adores her son-in-law and is even crazier about Korey. She sold her home in Suffolk, Virginia, and bought another in Hillside, New Jersey, to be closer to them.
    â€œShe’s fine. Just”—he glanced at Babyface—“shocked by the news.”
    â€œWhat news?”
    B.D. snuggled closer to his man, linking his left arm through Babyface’s right and peering at him.
    â€œWe’re getting married,” Babyface announced.
    â€œAgain?” Gene snapped.
    â€œYes. But this time in Toronto, where it will be official in the eyes of the law.”
    Gene stated the obvious. “As soon as y’all cross the border, it won’t be.”
    Babyface inhaled. “We won’t be crossing the border. We’ll be staying.”
    Mitchell’s eyes widened. “You mean . . . living there?”
    They both nodded.
    Gene stared at them, aghast. “You’re moving to Canada? Nobody moves to Canada. Didn’t y’all see South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut ?”
    â€œIf they didn’t before, they are now,” argued Babyface.
    â€œDo you think you can live there?” Mitchell asked.
    â€œWe don’t know, but it’s something we