LOS ANGLES, CA — The Point Foundation, which awards scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students on the basis of leadership abilities, scholastic achievement and financial need, has announced its 2007 scholars. One of the 38 recipients, Philip Rogers-Reeves, lives in Buffalo and attends The University of Buffalo.
When Philip came out to his fundamentalist Christian, parents in North Dakota, they gave him an ultimatum: leave the family without support, or change his sexuality.
However, when Philip tried to leave, he was physically restrained and had to escape. With only a few clothes and no shoes, he lived with friends until Tony and Tom Rogers-Reeves, a committed gay couple in the community, took him in and treated him like their son.
They became a family, but they faced heavy opposition from the community. When they pursued an adoption, Philip's old church and birth family gathered outside the courtroom yelling, "Don't let Satan win."
The adoption was denied and the negative public attention eventually resulted in Tony's changing careers. Philip and his dads decided to move to Buffalo, where Philip is now majoring in English at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Philip plans to become the legal son of Tom and Tony, and to eventually attend law school so he can help others fight unfair treatment and bigotry.
—Staff
