My State Rep. is holding office hours in my small town. He is against marriage equality, so I thought I would drop off a personal note urging him to support it. Then I had the idea to ask for opinions here. I am pretty nervous, this is my first diary, please be gentle, and thanks for your help.
May 25, 2011
Dear Rep. Blankenbush,
I am a constituent in your district and I am writing concerning the upcoming vote on Marriage Equality in New York State. To my knowledge, none of my friends or family members are gay. I have no personal/emotional stake in this issue. However, I do have very strong feelings about civil rights. This is the civil rights issue of our time. Denying marriage rights to a certain set of people is the same as the signs that used to be seen saying “No Blacks allowed”; a civil union option is the same as having separate drinking fountains,schools and waiting areas for whites and blacks. My children learn this history and are appalled that such discrimination existed in our “free” country. My hope is that my grandchildren will be able to look back and be proud that our generation also righted a wrong. Churches and religions will still be free to discriminate as they will. That is their right. Our government, State and Federal, has the responsibility to treat ALL citizens as equals. That is why I am urging you to support Marriage Equality when it comes to a vote in the NYS Senate.
Sincerely yours,
Fri May 27, 2011 at 7:10 AM PT: