(no subject)

[nohanii]

I finally wrote back to my parents concerning their decision to vote "yes" on Prop 8. I meant to keep it short, but I ended up writing a term paper (okay, not quite). I decided not to try to talk them into believing that they believe the wrong thing because they will never budge on that issue. Instead, I'm trying to convince them that they did the wrong thing by you, K. Regions in brackets are parts that I probably won't end up sending because they have the potential to be incendiary.
 

When I heard on Tuesday that you had voted in support of Proposition 8, I was shocked. I know you voted your conscience, but you also voted to discriminate against your own daughter, and for that I am appalled. I expected better from you. By voting yes on 8, you may have permanently alienated one of your children, and you have infuriated two others.

I always thought that we were raised to respect others and to live by the Golden Rule – to treat others as we would have them treat us. What happened? Is it suddenly okay to discriminate against one group of people because you don’t agree with their lifestyle? Is it really no big deal to perpetuate a prejudice just because you don’t understand something?

Honestly, what is the absolute worst that could happen if gays and lesbians were allowed to marry? Would people really end up marrying farm animals, as you have suggested? Extrapolating this example backwards in time, would you have voted “no” on miscegenation laws (which were not repealed until 1967 in some states) because they could have led to gay marriage, etc? [This is nonsensical thinking that shows how utterly afraid you are of something you don’t understand. Marrying a sibling or animals is completely unrelated to the issue at hand. There is a reason why incest is outlawed throughout the world – inbreeding is dangerous. Not so with homosexual marriage. And marrying farm animals? The idea is ludicrous. Gay marriage is about one person marrying another person who happens to be of the same gender. Both of them are human beings, not a man and his cat.]

You say you love Kelly and you accept her living arrangements, but your words are incongruent with your actions. If this really were true as you profess, you would give up on your own prejudices and allow her the opportunity to marry whomever she wishes. As straight citizens, you and I have the right to marry anyone we want -- black, white, Hispanic, hell even green. Kelly does not. True, she can marry a man, but she wants to marry Geena. She’s not hurting anyone, so she should be able to do it. Don’t give me that “it’s for the children” crap; there are plenty of families out there with one mommy and one daddy that are not perfect, including ours (case in point).

If anyone is "ripping the family apart," it is you. Nick and I will stand by our sister even if it means causing you pain. You have caused her far more pain than we will ever inflict on you. If you wanted familial harmony, you should have thought harder before you cast your “yes” vote.

Kelly has been nothing but honest and respectful in all of her correspondences with you. She is nearly 23 years old and is no longer a child who can be told when to drop a subject when you grow tired of it. For that matter, neither are Nick and I. WE will decide when this discussion is over. If you don’t want to be a part of it, fine, but we will continue to express our disapproval for your actions.

I only hope that in time you will come to realize that your vote was erroneous. I hope you really see how much you have hurt Kelly by essentially telling her she is a second class citizen. I hope you somehow make it up to her. I hope you admit that she has a relationship with Geena, not just a living arrangement. And I hope one day we will be able to put this mess behind us and be one whole family again instead of two warring factions, I really do.

[And here’s the kicker: It’s probably your fault she’s not straight. Research has shown that stress during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can cause the young, especially males, to behave in a manner not “fitting” their gender. YOU made her this way. And now you’re denying her sexual identity. Doesn’t that make you feel wonderful? Have fun with that! I hope it preys on that conscience of yours.]

 [And seriously? Get over yourself. This “I’m the parent, you have to do what I say” crap is getting really old. Twenty years old. Shut up already.]
 
Edit: This last bracket was left out unintentionally. Again, bracketed regions are things that I would like to say, but I won't send because it  they will only make matters worse. It was fun to write, especially the last part.
 

Comments

[honeystix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I ended up sending it without any of the bracketed parts and with more on familial bonds and solidarity. Most of the brackets were things that I wanted to say but wouldn't just because they wouldn't further out arguments at all. And thanks to your suggestion, I added a part about how she cannot choose who she loves, it just is that way. I posted the email that was actually sent on another entry if you want to read that, although it is very similar to what you see here.
Thanks again for your input =)