As a child, David McKinstry always knew one thing: he wanted to be a father. However, as a single-and secretly gay-man, David's only option was to adopt. Lying about his sexuality on adoption applications, David was consistently met with a resounding "no."
Challenging the Canadian government to champion his cause, in 199X officials finally agreed to use David as a test case to see if a gay man could adopt internationally. All thirteen applications were met with the same response: "we don't give kids to fags."
Undeterred, and facing unfathomable levels of stigma, bigotry, and red tape from global adoption agencies, social workers, and politicians, David continued to advocate for change. Fighting for his dream, and with a little lie from the Canadian government, David became a true "rebel with a cause" by becoming the first gay Canadian man approved to adopt internationally and then, with his husband, the first to co-adopt.
Rebel Dad: Triumphing Over Bureaucracy to Adopt Two Orphans Born Worlds Apart recounts David's emotional and inspiring journey as he navigates both coming to terms with his own sexuality and fighting to create a family he could call his own.
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[EXHAUSTION FROM THE CLOYING HEAT made lying in bed with the blanket over my head seem almost necessary during that first day in India: January 22, 1998] ***(FriesenPress, 9 November 2017, ebook, 294 pages, ARC from publisher via NetGalley voluntarily reviewed)
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I feel humbled to have read this book. I really felt for David. He wants to be a Dad, has wanted to be a Dad since he was a kid and just keeps coming up against brick walls. This book is a real eye opener about what people, especially gay men go through to adopt. I'd no idea how much red tape and stress and even pain it involved. Rebel Dad is a very emotional book. I was right there with David as he tried to make his dreams come true. I was shocked by the fact adoption agencies kept saying 'no'. There are so many kids neglected and mistreated by their parents and David wanted to be a dad so much. You'd think that would be a good thing? Rebel Dad is a brave, gutsy and at times very sad book. I loved it.
