AllMovie

A documentary about the struggles and triumphs of gay men to adopt and raise children, Daddy and Papa draws much of its material from the experiences of its director, Johnny Symons. In the documentary, Symons and his partner William Rogers, who live in San Francisco, want to add Zachary, an African American baby, to their family, but must deal with the objections of Zachary's foster mother, a devout Christian who believes Zachary will be harmed by the couple's gay lifestyle. Meanwhile, in Florida, Doug Houghton is attempting to adopt Oscar, an eight-year-old; although he has the support of the birth family, he must fight state law, which forbids gays and lesbians from legally adopting children. The film also tells the story of Kelly Wallace, another gay man whose hope to adopt two brothers is met with frustrating legal complications; in addition, we get the perspective of Fanny, a nine-year-old whose two fathers have separated and are each living with a new partner. Daddy and Papa was screened at the 2002 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.