‘At the End of the Rainbow’ | Recently relocated family finds themselves right at home in East Point.
The Tremmel family discusses inclusion, gay parenthood, and their new lives in the Tri-Cities.
EAST POINT, GA — In honor of Pride Month & Father’s Day, Vox Pop ATL had the opportunity and the pleasure to sit down with the Tremmel family to discuss their recent move and exactly why they choose the Tri-Cities to be their new home.
Sitting on the porch of their stylish yet subdued home in Frog Hollow, Scott (father) and Jordan (daughter) casually debate restaurant options for their Father’s Day lunch. The dull grey late-morning Sunday sky threatens to rain but is holding off for the moment.
Pretty standard fare for a Father’s Day family outing to be sure. Albeit, the journey creating their family was anything but routine. Scott, Jordan’s father, who just so happens to be gay, defiantly confronted the system and bigotry in order to adopt his daughter back in 2007.
Father and daughter share some candid thoughts with Vox Pop ATL about their decision to leave Henry Cty, growing up with two dads, and their new lives in East Point.
Vox Pop ATL: (Scott) Can you tell some of the reasons you decided to move your family to East Point?
Scott Tremmel: I work in Buckhead, and I was commuting from Henry County. It was just insane.
Another reason for moving here into East Point is the diversity. I’m in an interracial relationship, she's got, two dads. We need to be in an area where that's okay. Unfortunately, most of Henry County was not okay with that. It's sad but it's true.
Vox Pop ATL: (Jordan) What’s the biggest difference to you between Henry Cty and East Point?
Jordan Tremmel: Especially going to a private Christian school, I definitely would kind of held back on the whole ‘gay dad thing’ if somebody asked me. As I have gotten older, I've kind of embraced it more and I've learned that it's okay to be different.
VP: (Scott) Can you share with us your journey to fatherhood with Jordan?
ST: Knowing my whole life that I wanted to have children, my sexuality has never been much of a conversation for me, in the sense that, I don't put a lot of identity around it. I always knew I wanted to be a father. No matter how that came about I would make that happen.
They wouldn't allow two men to adopt children in Georgia. So, I actually had to adopt Jordan on my own.
VP: (Jordan) How would you describe your relationship with your Dad?
JT: It's been strong throughout my whole life, there’s never been a weak moment. I look up to him a lot and just everything he does for me. I'm very thankful.
VP: (Scott) How does the reality of life here in East Point match your expectations, so far?
ST: I had a big list of things, I really wanted in a neighborhood. We wanted community, we wanted to be able to have people out on the front porch. Honestly, it really beat my expectations.
I don't even get on the highway anymore. I haven't gotten on the highway since we moved here. That's huge.
VP: (Jordan) What would you say to folks that might question your dad’s ability as a parent?
JT: A dad is a dad. I mean, you can't put labels on dads. They do their job, and that's really it. There's no difference.
VP: (Scott) Knowing what you know now, would you go through the process again?
ST: Absolutely. No regrets. I would do everything exactly the same.
The Tremmels have just celebrated six months here in the Tri-Cities and they currently reside in the Frog Hollow neighborhood in East Point.
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I moved to East Point a year ago, and it is without a doubt the friendliest place I have ever lived: LOVE IT