Two mothers, two children, one family
Ava and Jadon have two mothers. Teresa Volpe is a mom and Mercedes Santos is a mom. Santos and Volpe are a same-sex couple and are raising their biological children. They are fighting to have same-sex marriage recognized in Illinois. Photographer Jim Young spent some time with them documenting their lives.
(Total 24 photos)
1. Mercedes Santos and Teresa Volpe laugh while playing cards with their children Jadon and Ava at their home in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Teresa Volpe kisses her son Jadon.
3. Teresa Wolpe looks at her son Jadon after he played the violin.
4. Mercedes Santos plays cards with his son Jadon.
5. Teresa Volpe and Mercedes Santos make cookies with their children.
6. Mercedes Santos and Ava make cookies at their home in Chicago.
7. The sticker on the rear window of Teresa Volpe's car is associated with her family in Evanston, Illinois.
8. Mercedes Santos and Teresa Volpe listen to instructions at the food warehouse, where they are volunteers, in Evanston.
9. Jadon hums into a "pipe" made of cardboard during the arrival of his mothers Teresa and Mercedes at school during a ball on the occasion of Valentine's Day in Wilmette, Illinois.
10. Teresa Wolpe helps her son get dressed at school in Wilmette.
11. Jadon dances with his two mothers at a Valentine's Day ball.
12. Jadon Santos-Volpe gives a Valentine to his two moms.
13. Valentine card written by Jadon.
14. Teresa Wolpe, Jadon and soon joined them Mercedes Santos and Ava came to Springfield to participate in hearings on same-sex marriage in Illinois.
15. Teresa Wolpe and Mercedes Santos await the start of a hearing in the Executive Committee of the Illinois Senate in Springfield.
16. The whole family came to the hearing on same-sex marriage.
17. Teresa Wolpe speaks at the hearing.
18. Teresa Wolpe and Mercedes Santos read email on the phone.
19. Teresa hugs her daughter Ava.
20. Jadon Santos-Volpe plays with his friend Sam Crawford-Clunan while his moms talk to their lawyer Eric Roldan.
21. Mercedes Santos and Teresa Volpe hug each other, rejoicing at the results of a hearing on same-sex marriage in Illinois.
22. Teresa and Mercedes on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Senate.
23. Mercedes, Teresa and Jadon watch Ava perform at Beat Kitchen in Chicago.
24. Mercedes Santos, Teresa Wolpe and Jadon at Beat Kitchen in Chicago.
Keywords: Homosexuality | Mother | Family