When there’s a loss in cabin pressure, the first thing you’re instructed to do is put on your own mask. The same principle applies to the horrific times we find ourselves in. So much is coming at us on a macro level, that it’s completely overwhelming. But if you start by getting your own house in order, you’ll be in a better position to then map out what to do within your community, city, and nation.
Sara Marler, Founder of Marler Law Partners
Knowing the community was fearful of what was to come after an election where the victor spent nearly $215 million demonizing us, Sara Marler of Marler Law Partners assembled a fierce, all-female legal team to conduct the LGBTQ Legal Summit, which was held at St. Paul UCC in Tower Grove South this past November.
The consensus of the panelists was that same-sex marriage is likely to be overturned, but those already married may be “grandfathered in,” and have their marriages legally recognized. Regardless of your marriage status, however, panelists said everyone should have a Medical Power of Attorney in place. If something happens to you or a loved one, you don’t want the same MAGA relative who voted your rights away calling the life and death shots.
“I was approached by a number of people after the November legal summit expressing their fears about their spouse not being permitted to make medical decisions for them if their marriage was overturned,” said attorney Tammy Druar Repaso. “Some shared stories of their terrible experiences prior to the legalization of their marriage, where they were hospitalized, unable to make their own medical decisions, and estranged family members were making decisions instead of their chosen partner and chosen family who knew them best. Having a properly drafted and executed medical Power of Attorney can help prevent these situations from occurring, which is why I felt it was important to offer to help the LGBTQ+ community get these documents in place.”
Tammy Druar Repaso
Repaso and the team decided to hold a Power of Attorney Clinic, where they could help community members set up their POA free of charge. The event will take on March 5th at 6 p.m. The process to complete your POA, which will take about half an hour, will be conducted in back-to-back sessions. Once again, we’ll be graciously hosted by Lorin W. Cope of St. Paul UCC.
The event is open to all members of the St. Louis LGBTQ community. Please RSVP by calling Marler Law Partners at 314-782-1415, or emailing them at [email protected] so they can be prepared to accommodate everyone.
St. Louis has a strong and dynamic LGBTQ community filled with people figuring out the best ways to be there for one another right now. The kindness and generosity of these incredible attorneys is a testament to that.
We’ve been through terrible times before, including the worst of the AIDS crisis, where patients weren’t fed or bathed unless visited by heroes like the late Daniel Flier. In that tradition, let’s help one another breathe, and when we’ve caught our breath, let us get back up and fight.
