ANISIA & CARMEN
Anisia Machado
47, Dental hygienist
Carmen Machado
44, Discipline dean at a high school
Emerson, NJ
Many women dream about falling in love with the girl next door, but Carmen didn’t have to dream—at least not for long. Anisia moved next door over 30 years ago and soon they realized they were meant to be together. Over the years, they’ve had a commitment ceremony and raised children together. Still, staying together has not always been easy. They’ve had to deal with their disapproving families and anti-gay prejudice, says Carmen, who is on the board of Rainbow Families of New Jersey. She also plays drums in a group and runs her own DJ business. Anisia, meanwhile, is a wine enthusiast and enjoys reading. So what’s kept these two together all these years? “We give each other the room to be individuals and share a deep-rooted trust in each other,” they say. “Most of all, we laugh a lot and accept each other’s shortcomings. No one is perfect.”
