Hi,
I know there is some discussion about whether or not the gay community and the Transgendered community are, or should be, connected. I have no doubts that our communities are connected. We have Transpeople who are of different sexual persuasions and there are probably some gay people who have Gender issues to some extent. It all comes down to protecting others and standing by them in the same way that we'd like them to stand by us.
Anyway, I sent this letter to my state representatives because even though Gay Marriage is legal now, they are considering banning it for the future in a June legislative session.
I'm printing the letter I wrote because I am intending on writing many more letters on behalf of the Trans community.
I need to know if I screwed up my message by being too blunt or if there's a better way to phrase some of it. Please, be kind.
I want to learn to be effective. I want to make a difference. There is more pertinent information at
massequality.orgQuoteHello,
I am really interested in defending the rights of the people whom I love. I believe that there is no more Just Cause other than that which grants all people the right to dignity, respect and happiness.
Please consider yourself as an example, for instance; You have the right to choose a partner or spouse without having others judge you. You have the right to marry the person of your dreams and to live together openly and with dignity through marriage. You have the right to raise children who are comforted in the fact that their parents have such a bond that they would make a serious commitment such as marriage truly is. Now imagine that you didn't have these rights. Imagine that you were singled out by the government for a purely cynical reason and made to live in a way that denies you the same form of happiness and dignity that many of your relatives and friends share. How would that make you feel about yourself especially in relation to the community around you? Nobody wants to be discriminated against. Codifying discrimination into the law is tantamount to codifying hate. Please think about this whether or not you believe in the institute of marriage between gays. Sometimes the right thing is the thing with which we don't agree.
The next few sentences were offered to me by the MassEquality web site. I happen to believe these words concerning Gay marriage and it's relation to our communities in general. "Three years of marriage equality has only made our families, our communities and our state stronger. Please do everything you can to protect equal marriage rights and keep the anti-marriage amendment off the ballot."
Please. Really do everything you can to preserve the dignity that all people deserve. Do not deny marriage to people on the basis of discrimination. This world in which we live can be hard on all people. There is no rational reason for our own government to make it harder.
I am writing to you because I know some Gay people. They are vivacious and caring people. They contribute to the community in many ways including paying their taxes, voting, joining churches, and in working selflessly to help others who are less fortunate. I believe that the community can show itself to be selfless back to them by allowing them the rights which the rest of us take for granted.
I know I don't have to say this, but I believe that you will do the right thing. I have to believe that. It is my nature to expect the best from all people.
God bless us all.
Addendum: The small brainers lost their chance to destroy human lives on june 14. The votes were against putting the issue of gay marriage on the state wide ballot.
For some reason, they mean little people who like to deny others their rights will have an opportunity to try again in 2012.
Some very highly ranked Massachusetts politicians put a lot of effort into protecting gay marriage.
Here is the body of the message I received from MassEquality:
Quote
THANK YOU, MASSACHUSETTS!
Dear rebecca,
We won!
Thanks to you, the Massachusetts Legislature has beaten back the discriminatory, anti-gay, anti-marriage Constitutional amendment.
The final 151 to 44 vote happened because of the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Senate President Terry Murray and House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who worked tirelessly to defeat this amendment.
Thanks to them, our strong group of legislative allies and the courageous new allies who realized that no one's civil rights should be placed on a public ballot, all Massachusetts families are stronger and safer today.
And you have been amazing, too. Over the nearly four years of this struggle, you've logged thousands of phone calls, emails and letters to the State House. You've introduced your family to your legislators. You've volunteered on campaigns. You've gone door-to-door from Springfield to Worcester to Lowell to New Bedford to Cape Cod. And if that weren't enough, you've taken hours off the job to be seen and heard at the State House.
There's a lot to celebrate. But FIRST, we must say thank you.
* Call or email your legislators TODAY who voted NO today. See how they voted here.
* Call or email the three leaders who made this possible: Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, and House Speaker DiMasi.
* Finally, send a short letter to your local newspaper thanking these leaders and your legislator for their support and their vote.
You have made today possible. Your commitment, tenacity and passion have been an inspiration. You have kept the midnight oil burning. We will always, all of us, remember this battle for equality. We know in our hearts that not only are we and our families safer and more secure today, but all the loving couples and families that follow us. It's a proud day in Massachusetts, indeed.
Marc Solomon
Campaign Director
