Today’s letter - in support of Harvey Milk

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I am writing in support of the bill to create Harvey Milk Day in California in honor of the slain member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Just like the recent Supreme Court decision that removed the ban on gay marriage gave hope to every American who is “different,” Harvey Milk’s message and legacy gave hope to the disenfranchised, humiliated and beaten-down youth minorities of his day.

“I ask for the movement to continue because my election gave young people out there hope. You gotta give ‘em hope,” he said shortly before his assassination.

Thank you for supporting Harvey Milk Day and keeping alive a legacy that every person can hope to have their dreams come true.

Yours,

Today’s letter - God made Scotty and Kevin too

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

On the season finale of the hit series Brothers and Sisters, a major character, Kevin, married his boyfriend Scotty in a high-profile (but not legally binding) ceremony.

Executive producer Monica Breen explains “Kevin deserves a stable relationship in the same way that Kitty, Sarah and all the others deserve it. He will be facing many questions in his life — but now he has someone to share that with.”

Hurrah.

Governor, all Californians deserve to have a stable relationship, and the only way that is possible is through access to the time-tested tradition of marriage. Please continue your support of the Constitution and its mantra, that no Californian should be specially excluded from our economy and society because of who they are or what they believe. Please support the freedom to marry.

Yours,

Today’s letter - second marriages are immoral

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

We were watching Access Hollywood last night featuring the breakup of Star Jones and Al Reynolds. Their tumultuous relationship gave tabloids the opportunity to explore issues about why people get married, and a chance to speculate about the various motivations of love, money, friendship, children and sex.

What I thought was interesting though was when my domestic partner / fiancée noticed that banning same-sex couples from getting married is just as arbitrary as banning second marriages. Why don’t we ban second marriages?

We don’t ban second marriages – except in the Roman Catholic Church – because marriage is fundamental to uniting families inside a social and economic structure.

So why do we ban same-sex marriages? Is it because their marriages are somehow less fundamental to society and the economy? Or is it to marginalize and punish people for being different?

I think you know the answer to that one, Governor.

Yours,

Today’s letter - celebrating freedom

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) presented several awards for the portrayal of lesbian and gay people in the media during their 19th annual Media Awards in New York last week.

The award for television news magazines was shared by Barbara Walters and “60 Minutes” for “My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children” and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” about the United States military’s policy on gay and lesbian service members, respectively.

A movie I wrote to you about last year, “For the Bible Tells Me So,” was named outstanding documentary, joining The New York Times, GQ magazine, CNN.com and the television series “Boston Legal” in receiving honors.

Why would people who deserve such meaningful and poignant coverage in the mainstream media, not deserve the freedom to make the commitment of marriage?

I wish you would realize that there is nothing wrong with gay marriage, but there is everything wrong in blocking two adults who love each other from making the commitment of marriage.

Yours,

Today’s letter - Tom Ford is having kids

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

Fashion designer Tom Ford announced that he would be joining the growing ranks of lesbian and gay parents by having a kid in 2008. He told a magazine that “I’ve always wanted kids. I don’t want to get to be 75 years old and just have made a lot of dresses, done some houses.”

Tom Ford has been with his partner, photographer Richard Buckley, for more than 20 years, and this is clearly not a decision that has been made lightly. But since gender is no longer an impediment to having children, why is it still an impediment to marriage?

It is wonderful that we live in a country where people like Brad Pitt, Heath Ledger and Tom Ford can intentionally have their kids out of wedlock, but I believe it would be a better world if people who want to make the commitment of marriage had the freedom to do that.

Yours,

Today’s letter - Samantha gets it, why don’t you?

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

It looks like the upcoming Sex in the City movie will feature a wedding or two. Will Carrie Bradshaw finally marry Big, or will her gay gal pal Stanford Blatch manage to find love even before Carrie?

Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha do not seem to be the kind of people who would be anything but thrilled if Stanford finally tied the knot. Why would Californians be any different?

I wish you would support the freedom to marry for us out here in California, so people like Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha – or Stanford, Anthony and Big – are not blocked by a tradition of bigotry from marrying the love of their lives.

Yours,

Today’s letter - a Hollywood dream

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

This season, American Idol welcomes its first openly gay contestant. Leo Marlowe began his audition saying that his “Mom always said she raised the perfect homecoming queen. It just wasn’t one of her daughters.”

Simon thinks he’s a good, honest kid; Paula thinks he’s a “touchdown!” and Randy said he was “rockin’ the bells.”

Along with the other Omaha finalists – Angelica Puente, David Cook, Johnny Escamilla, Jason Rich and Rachael Wicker – American Idol is finally showing that the Heartland has heart in its soul.

Governor, please make California the kind of a place where all these contestants can find their dream, if not to make music, at least to marry the person they love. Tell your party and the State Supreme Court that all Californians deserve freedom – the same freedom to marry.

Yours,

Today’s letter - In-laws are people too

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I’m sorry to hear that your mother-in-law, Eunice Schriver, is in the hospital.

I wish I could have a mother-in-law. The woman who fills that role is just as vibrant, just as delightful and just as much of a person as Eunice – but because of the ban on gay marriage that you support, she can’t be my mother-in-law.

I wish the best for Eunice and your family during this difficult time, and encourage you to relish this relationship that only the special right of marriage can provide.

Yours,

Today’s letter - successful "shack-ups" undermine all marriages

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I want to get married, but I’m running into more and more people who just want to “shack up” without making that commitment. I am starting to think that the decline of marriage might be inspired by the many same-sex couples who have been forced to build their families without the safety and security of marriage, yet have done so with such success.

Many of our friends ask me and my permanent boyfriend for marital advice, which we happily supply, but I actually felt a bit guilty last week when a friend of mine from high school told me that he and his girlfriend decided to merely live together because of how well my ten-year relationship works without marriage.

Even public couples such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie cite gay relationships as reasons for not getting married. It’s so popular that Senator Carol Migden introduced a bill that would give California couples the rights of marriage without the responsibilities. She calls it “Domestic Partnership.”

If you believe that couples in a relationship should get married instead of “living in sin” then you should sign AB 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, and change the gold standard for successful relationships from “domestic partnerships” to marriages.

Sincerely,

Today’s letter - Let them wed

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

In the October 2006 issue of Esquire magazine, Brad Pitt said “Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able.”

Their kids - and ours - deserve to have parents who are legally married. Please sign AB 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act and let them wed!

Sincerely,