i was on an email list that received the following:

sorry, i just had to pass this along. it really made me think about what effect prop 102 might have on all of us.

thought you might like to see some of the things that are happening in some of the schools in states where same sex marriages are legal.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1352578267/bctid1784521903

i decided to respond to the entire list with:

my sister-in-law is in a gay relationship and has been with her partner for twelve years. they have three kids now and another on the way. her kids have attended public school and come in contact with lots of other kids in social settings. many of the other kids are aware they have two moms and don’t think anything of it. they live in north carolina where gay marriage is not recognized but that hasn’t kept all their classmates and other friends from coming in contact with real life diversity.

i don’t have a problem with diversity books like the one being shown in this video. there are lots of non-traditional families where single parents, grandparents, friends, relatives or gay couples are raising children. the children in these families should not face discrimination or ridicule because they are not part of a traditional family. if the subject matter makes you uncomfortable to explain to elementary school age children, its certainly easy enough to say these couples are best friends or even brothers. i’m certain this miniscule portion of public education, should it ever even exist in your school, should be easy to counter with parental involvement and moral education at home.

my sister-in-law and her partner are two of the most loving and successful parents i know. they are raising productive, thoughtful, pleasant children. allowing politicians to exploit this wedge issue to drive their personal agendas is more destructive to families than anything my sister-in-law and her family are doing.

discriminating against same sex unions only prevents gay and lesbian couples from receiving the legal and financial benefits that heterosexual couples take for granted. things like: social security; medical benefits; and health care directives. gay couples are going to exist if its legal or not and denying them the same rights to provide and protect their families hurts everyone.

if your family has chosen a religious life style i don’t think you should be discriminated against or denied common societal benefits. that same courtesy needs be extended to gay and lesbian families.

the gospel according to matthew, cheers.