My Letter to the NC House and NC Senate, regarding SB 514 or The Anti-LGBT Amendment

These are my Children…

I am very upset about SB514 and its rushed passage through the house yesterday, and its presentation to the Senate today…and I think as a constituent, I have the right to inform you exactly what I think of this proposed amendment and show you the faces of some of the people you are discriminating against.

This is my 18 year old son Jordan. Jordan is a highly intelligent, wonderful, loving member of society. He also happens to be an openly gay man.



Jordan came out when he was 14 years old, and it has not been easy for him. Anyone that thinks being gay is a choice should have to face the hate and discrimination that Jordan has faced on a daily basis; I assure you they would quickly change their minds. Jordan has been spit on, called derogatory names, assaulted, and discriminated against constantly. This is the same type of discrimination, bigotry and hate that you are encouraging with this marriage Amendment.
 
This is my 16 year old daughter Mariah. Mariah is a smart, independent, funny, free spirited young woman, she also happens to be openly bi-sexual.

Mariah also came out at a very early age, knowing that you are loved and accepted, just the way you are, makes a difference in how children perceive themselves and she knew that our feelings for her would not change in the slightest, because of our acceptance of her brother’s sexuality.

Mariah has also faced discrimination on a daily basis…from peers and teachers. Mariah has been punished at school based solely on her sexuality, by teachers who share many of the same views as the legislature that is supporting this horrible, discriminating amendment. Mariah has also been assaulted, called derogatory names, and discriminated against.

Both of my children agree, that being gay isn’t a choice, because if they had a choice in the matter…neither one would choose to live with such hate everyday of their lives.

Look at my incredible children; they are just like your children and grandchildren. Mariah and Jordan have the same hopes and dreams as every other child in this state, the same dreams that your children and grandchildren have. Jordan and Mariah dream of success, peace, harmony, they dream of love, home, children and family and they dream of someone to share their hopefully, long and fulfilling life with. This marriage amendment will shatter those dreams and make the dreams of my children and people like them unobtainable.

Who are you to deny my children their dreams? Who are you to tell them that their dreams are not as important as the dreams of straight children? Who are you to tell them that they cannot grow up and realize those dreams because of discrimination, bigotry and hate? Who are you to tell them who they can marry and spend their lives with?

By passing this amendment you are not only telling my children that their dreams of the future are worthless, but you are sending a loud and clear message to them that they are worthless. You are informing my children and the other LGBT children in this state that they are not valued the same as straight people, you are sending a message to not only my children, but to every LGBT person in this state that they are second class citizens who are not entitled to the same rights and protections under the law as straight people.

You are completely going against our state constitution which states in plain language that “all persons are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Tell me as a parent:

• How am I supposed to tell Mariah and Jordan that the state that they call home hates them so much that they will pass a bill that could write discrimination into the Constitution that prevents them from marrying the person they love?
• How am I supposed to tell my children that in the state that they call home, they are regarded as second class citizens?
• How am I supposed to break my children's hearts because the state they live in cannot accept them because they were born LGBT?

• How am I supposed to protect them, when our own legislature passes bills and laws that promote the hate, intolerance and bigotry they face every single day, instead of laws that protect them and their civil rights as human beings?
• How am I, as a parent, supposed to reassure my children that they are beautiful, wonderful, deserving, members of society, when our own lawmakers are saying loud and clear that they don't believe they are?
• How am I supposed to protect those I love from discrimination like this? How can I keep them safe when our own legislature is the one letting everyone know that they do not deserve the same protections as everyone else?

How would you like to be the parent that has to tell their children this?

As a parent I want what all parents want for their children, health, happiness and love. I dream of the day they marry the person they were meant to spend the rest of their lives with, you are not only shattering their dreams, but the dreams of a mother who wants what every parent wants for their children. You are destroying the happy ending I have promised Jordan and Mariah their entire lives.

What you are doing also sends a message to the citizens in this state that hatred and intolerance is acceptable. You are telling them that they do not have to treat LGBT people as equals because in the eyes of the law, they’re not. You are allowing your own fear and prejudiced views to dictate who is important in our society and who is not.

I urge you, please vote no on SB514…it is not a bill that protects marriage, but a bill that destroys the dreams and aspirations of people like my children. It is a bill that classifies a group of people as being inferior to other people in this state and violates the very idea our country was created on.

Remember these are not nameless, faceless people you are harming…these are my children and people like them.

Sincerely,

Leesa Nixon, (registered voter, NC)

*Sadly, today the NC Senate voted in favor of putting this motion on the May ballot, during the republican primary...a time when most democrates do not go out and vote...but am urging each and every one of you...go to the polls, vote no to the Marriage Amendment..stand up against sneaky politic's, discrimination and hate.