[WestMALocals] Fwd: My letter to my state representative

[Owen Broadhurst]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Owen Broadhurst <owen.broadhurst at gmail.com>
Date: Sep 12, 2005 7:33 AM
Subject: My letter to my state representative
To: GNC Affairs List <Natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org>

I wrote this letter to my state representative last year in February. With 
the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention now days away, I have - since he 
never wrote a reply - sent it to him again.
 =========
 Owen R. Broadhurst
96 Elbert Rd.
Agawam, MA 01001-3202
413-786-1508
thersites at unforgettable.com

Dan,

I doubt that there is any real way that I could emphasize enough for you how 

vital, how powerful, or how deeply personal the question of gay marriage in 
fact is for me- but I am certainly going to try.

You know that I worked hard for you during your first campaign for state 
representative, and that I backed you most enthusiastically. You know that I 

have always been thrilled to have you march with us, and to have your 
support on the St. Patrick's Committee. You know that I have never once 
missed a fundraiser held in your behalf, and you know that- while I have not 

agreed with all of your votes- I have always praised your record of 
community service and civic involvement. I have always liked you, Dan.

Did you know that I'm a bisexual constituent of yours? Can you see why your 
support for this terrible anti-gay marriage amendment truly pains me? My 
sexual orientation has never been something that I have ever fancied 
screaming about from the rooftops, but I have been out of the closet now for 

nearly fourteen years. I'm a bisexual constituent of yours who practices a 
religion that, throughout nearly all of its history, has bestowed upon same 
sex couples marital sacraments. I might like to marry someone of the same 
sex some day, Dan, and I would appreciate it if the state would recognize my 

religion's sacraments as valid.

I fail to see the reason why my faith, or same sex couples, should continue 
to face state sanctioned discrimination simply because more politically 
powerful religions believe the state should only recognize their sacraments 
as valid. I fail to see the reason why people like me, who might marry 
someone of the same sex some day no matter how many politicians might wish 
to pretend we didn't, should be denied equal civil rights and benefits. I 
fail to see why we should be punished simply because most politicians 
practice more popular religions. Dan, can you see nothing wrong here? 

Some politicians say that they must enshrine discrimination in our state's 
Constitution because they have been swamped with phone calls and letters 
demanding this. They say they might otherwise risk their constituents' ire. 
Some politicians, however, once risked death championing the repeal of once 
popular Black Codes. Sometimes, a popular cause or popular legislation is 
just plain morally wrong.

Were you swamped with phone calls and letters insisting that gay people be 
stoned to death, would you support that? Of course not. Were you swamped 
with phone calls and letters demanding that gay people should all be denied 
jobs, would you support that? Of course not. Were you swamped with phone 
calls and letters commanding that gay people should all be kicked out of 
their homes, would you support that? Of course not. Yet, you were swamped 
with phone calls and letters to curtail our civil rights, and support that. 

You were swamped with phone calls and letters insisting that gay people 
should not have the right to see their dying spouses in hospitals and 
nursing homes, and you support that. You were swamped with phone calls and 
letters demanding that gay people should be denied their departed spouses' 
assets, and you support that. You were swamped with phone calls and letter 
commanding that gay people be kicked out of their departed spouses' houses, 
and you support that. Please consider that. Think hard about that.

Love is what a marriage makes, and if I love someone then I shall marry. My 
religion has sanctified same sex unions for decades, and similar religions 
have sanctified same sex unions throughout all of human history. Bigotry's a 

terrible excuse for denying us civil equality, for making us second-class 
citizens.

Dan, I want to look upon you with kind regard. I want to proudly be able to 
say that you stand up for what is right, and support civil liberties for 
all. I don't want always to remember your name as that of he who supported 
an amendment penned in hate. Tell me that you shall change your mind and act 

accordingly.

Your friend,
Owen R. Broadhurst