While directing In the Family (2012), Patrick Wang also plays the central role as Joey Williams, who was born in Tennessee, adopted after his parents died. After developing a lover relationship with Cody Hines (played by Trevor St. John), he moved into the latter’s house and became co-father of Chip (Sebastian Banes). Cody’s wife and Chip’s mother died, evidently in childbirth. When the film begins, the three are happily living together. Joey, a construction contractor, regularly drops Chip off to school and picks him up. Joe and Cody appear to be headed for a lifelong companionship in a small town where they appear uniformly accepted as an unmarried couple.
Evidently Joey has not read about the two lesbians who left Washington State in 2007 for a vacation in Florida, where one suddenly fell seriously ill. Although they had drawn up powers of attorney in Washington, they were not recognized in Florida, so one could not visit the other in the hospital and lost in a discrimination suit against the hospital after her partner died.
Suddenly Cody dies in an accident. Not allowed to visit his dying partner in the Tennessee hospital, Cody accepts the exclusion with good grace, as he appears to have a support group consisting of Cody’s relatives, Chip, and his own friends. Summoned to the house of Cody’s sister Eileen (Kelly McAndrew) a few days after Cody’s death, he learns that Cody drew up a will after his wife’s death leaving Eileen the owner of the house and guardian of Chip. Joey only has a will drafted by Cody that stops with a listing of his name, and Joey despite his role as a licensed contractor presents no will naming Cody as his heir. Joey is upset but calms down, having no other option for the moment.
For a time, Eileen allows Joey to live in the house, pay the mortgage despite insufficient income to do so comfortably, and continues to care for Chip, who continues to call Joey “dad.” But Thanksgiving approaches. Sally invites Chip but not Joey, who evidently shares his plight with co-workers. Joey and Chip share a Thanksgiving on the Wednesday before. Joey drops off Chip for Thanksgiving, expecting to pick him up the following day, goes home and fixes his own meal when co-workers knock on his door, bringing food and cheer. But when Joey goes to pick up Chip in Friday, nobody answers the door. Talking through a window, he learns that Chip is not even there. Without telling Joey where, Chip has been farmed out to his grandparents, whereabouts unknown.
Joey consults attorneys who tell him that he has no legal right to child custody and might even have to vacate the house. Then one of Joey’s contractor clients, Paul Hawks (Brian Murray), a retired attorney, decides to take his case. In a convoluted statement, he assures Joey that there are larger considerations than the law. How or whether the matter is resolved requires the filmviewer to endure the 169-minute film to the end.
Although the accent throughout in Tennesseean (though filming is in New York), and some actors are from Tennessee, Joey’s speech is barely accented and as rapid as a New Yorker. Viewing may require subtitles, which are provided on the DVD of the film.
What the film demonstrates is that gays and lesbians should make sure that their relationships are bolstered by legal protections, as prejudices and the law may not be on their side until gay marriage is recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court. The lesbian’s suit of the hospital in Florida evidently came to the attention of President Barack Obama, who ama, who in 2010 had Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issue a directive to prohibit visitation discrimination in all hospitals receiving Medicaid or Medicare funding. The lesbian, Lisa Pond, received the Presidential Citizens Medal from Obama in 2011. MH