Wow. Check out this letter written last year by six-year-old Ian Rosenberg-Scholl to Minnesota State Senator Warren Limmer, who introduced the marriage discrimination amendment that’s being put before that state’s voters this November. Ian wrote this letter after he found out that Sen. Limmer wanted to amend the constitution to exclude his moms from legal civil marriage in Minnesota, because he was afraid that the government would force his moms to get divorced. (And yes, I’m already in tears.)
Ian gave permission to share his letter in the hopes that it might help people to understand the importance of voting “no” on Minnesota’s marriage discrimination amendment. You simply must read his letter. But have tissues within reach. You’ll need them.
When I was Ian’s age, I remember being very afraid of war. Back then, it was the Persian Gulf War, and seeing the bombings and missile strikes on television made me very scared. But I never had to worry that the state would divorce my parents. A six-year-old boy should be worried about whether or not he can play in the playground with his friends after his kindergarten class is dismissed for the day, not about whether his moms’ marriage will be ended against their will. His letter fills me with anger and profound sadness. This is happening in families all around the country, and it’s an injustice that cries out for relief.
The letter:
I am Ian. I am 6. I have 2 moms. I care about other people who have 2 moms or 2 dads, not just about myself. I care about other people! And the communities!
It’s not fair to other people. If I voted on it, I would say no. What I’m saying is people who have 2 moms or dads will be mad and also sad.
The Constitution says that everyone is equal. You are not being equal. You should know it’s unfair. You are not being nice to us or to other families with two dads or two moms. It would not be fair.
We depend on other people. If we aren’t being a community it’s not going to be a country. It’s going to be a de-country. Being a community means help other people. If you aren’t being nice to people, they would be mad.
My family depends on each other because we help each other. And we could not be fair if we were not a community that would help people. Like, someday things will be nicer and there won’t be war. Jews hope that someday there won’t be wars.
Help people who are homeless, who don’t have money, who don’t have shelter, who don’t have food. Who are standing on the street, looking for people to help them.
Ian
Unfortunately, Senator Limmer and his colleagues refused to listen to Ian. Let’s hope the voters in Minnesota decide to do better this fall.
This kid is correct! He is more adult than many of the voters who will vote to discriminate and change the constitution.
I was dying and a gay nurse saved my life. I did not know her orientation nor did she know mine. I feel that God gave me a second chance because of her and my husband and I will always be indebted because she is a devoted human being and a great nurse who is also gay.
URGENT MEDIA REQUEST: Senator Limmer
sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn
Dear Senator Limmer:
Below my signature in this e-mail is the text of a letter that the 6-year-old Ian Rosenberg Scholl sent to you regarding marriage laws.
He did not want you to propose a ballot measure on the issue.
I find very disturbing that you did not make any reply to Ian. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is that you did not request to meet with Ian’s family. Just because you are an anti-gay bigot does not mean that you as an elected official do not have a responsibility to know some of the real live gay human beings you represent.
You are a coward. And you are a moral fraud, alleging to uphold morality by discriminating against gay people in your state, while not even having the basic decency to answer a 6-year-old who felt deeply enough to write to you about his loving family. Still less did you have the decency to meet Ian’s family, maybe eat a dinner with them and realize that they are made of flesh and blood and that their dignity stands out in bold relief against your backwards, narrow-minded hatefulness.
Scott Rose
Senator Limmer is what I call a KKKristian. They’ve been around in this country for centuries. They do the most vile things in the name of Christ and wrap themselves in the flag. They know nothing of Christ or of true patriotism. They just puff up and spend their energy making other people’s lives hell. You can’t reason with them, you can’t talk with them because they are locked into their irrational hatred. It’s actually a sickness. The only solution is to pray for God to change their heart. They are so locked into fear and hatred only God CAN reach them.
SENT: 2/27/2012
Dear Senator Limmer:
I’m so sad to hear there are still people resisting our Constitutional guarantee that “all men are created equal.”
I’m a 79-year-old gay man, formerly of Minnesota. Back in the late 50s, after serving my two-year stint in the U.S. army in Korea, I was a basket case trying to deny being gay.
The day after my discharge, I rushed to Mayo Clinic, where I had heard psychiatrists could “cure” me. I got a teaching job in a small town 15 miles away. Mayo put me on a long term therapy program.
Three days a week for SEVEN YEARS, I left school with the kids and sped to Rochester for my sessions. At that time Mayo practiced a type of “reparative therapy,” though not religious based. The theory was that if I could find the reason I “chose” to be gay and talk about it, the gay would go away.
The good psychiatrist tried them all: bad relationship with my father—true but I have two very straight brothers; my other was overly seductive—totally untrue; that I was sexualizing my anger—yes I was angry about the sex and love I was NOT getting from other guys. Finally, when nothing clicked, he said I had quite likely made the decision to be gay while still in my mother’s womb!
He told me date girls to get over my “fear” of them and pronounced me cured!
Ultimately, I found another psychiatrist in private practice who helped me accept myself as a gay man at age 44. With that acceptance, all the years of guilt and self-hate vanished. There are no words to describe the colossal feeling of relief and freedom.
Sen. Limmer, IF I made a choice to be gay, as you and other right wing folks claim, then you ALSO at some point made the decision NOT to be! When did you? Age 7, 15, or in your mom’s womb? You can’t have it both ways.
Respectfully,
Jerry Johnson
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
[...] Truth Wins Out has a letter written by a 6-year old to Sen. Warren Limmer, the Republican lead on the anti-gay marriage amendment that passed the Legislature last year. I am Ian. I am 6. I have 2 moms. I care about other people who have 2 moms or 2 dads, not just about myself. I care about other people! And the communities! [...]