Today’s letter - silly laws hurt real people

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I just read about Synchronized Swimming sensation Kenyon Smith of the Santa Clara Aquamaids. A man in a women’s sport, his ability to advance is hampered not by his ability, but by his gender: college scholarships and Olympic Games both bar his participation.

I am a gay dad, and as such I have to be both father and mother to my two young kids. I empathize with Mr. Smith not because the rules limit our options, but because we both weather the attacks by people who assume that we are less capable or less talented simply because of our gender.

The people who say men can’t be nurses and women can’t be pilots keep telling me that I can’t be a mother. But I know and you know that nurturing and caring for your kids isn’t something that depends on your gender – it depends on your love.

There is a law that is holding me back from being an excellent parent, the special law that prevents my kids from having two parents who are married. You vetoed two attempts to fix this law, and now the Opponents of Equality are trying to get a Constitutional Amendment to reinforce the silly law.

Please help me educate the public that a man can be both a father and – when he has to – a mother too. Please support the freedom to marry for us and all Californians.

Yours,

Today’s letter - Don’t Cross Abby

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

As you might know by now, I love old-fashioned letters. And the queen of old fashioned letters has got to be Dear Abby.

The syndicated advice columnist told the Associated Press late last week “I believe if two people want to commit to each other, God bless ‘em. That is the highest form of commitment, for heaven’s sake.”

Just last year she consoled a letter-writer whose brother refused to recognize his marriage, saying that “Accepting the status quo is not always the best thing to do…. Women were once considered chattel, and slavery was regarded as sanctioned in the Bible. However, western society grew to recognize that neither was just. Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain have recognized gay marriage, and one day, perhaps, our country will, too.”

I wish you would bless us, by signing AB 43 and putting your support behind those who love - like dear Abby - instead of those who hate.

Yours truly,