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REALLY Damn Lucky

I was cleaning out my office today and found a letter I had saved from my mom to her representative some years ago… Its things like this that make me feel SO lucky to have a family that is so wonderful and supportive. I still get choked up reading it… Just had to share

Tom – We’ve met a few times, most memorably at Amdahl corporation’s Good Government series talk and your activities with Amdahl and high school students. And, of course, I’ve voted for you consistently! 🙂

Now, I want to bend your ear and urge to hear my vote on gay adoption. My son is gay. He is also a very talented and responsible software engineer and manager at Apple Corporation. He is also a generous, moral, loving and giving individual… the type of individual who would be a blessing for any potentially adoptive child to have as a parent. However, because of ignorance, hatred, or other misguided reasons, he, and other gays, are continually lumped into groups of misfits, deviants, and others unsuitable for parenting. This stereotype not only is incorrect and hateful… and limiting to a gay individual’s ability to live well and without being an object of prejudice (and worse), but the stereotype also robs the community of a gay person’s ability to give. Adoption, with sufficient investigation of anyone’s qualifications and suitability, is a gift that an adult can give to a child in need. We, as a community, need these gifts.

I have been told that Rep. Steve Largent (R-OK) is planning on offering an amendment, perhaps as early as this evening (Tuesday),that would ban gays and lesbians from adopting in the District of Columbia. The amendment is to the DC Appropriations Bill (HR 2587). I strongly urge you to not only vote against this bill, but to use your influence to ensure that it is soundly defeated. You carry great influence in the House. Please use it here.

I’m so saddened to have to continually make sure my voice is heard about these awful anti-gay initiatives. I’m particularly disappointed at the extent to which the radical “religious right” seems to be disproportionately impacting the direction of the Republican party. However, I’ll stick to the issue at hand. Please tell Rep. Largent to stop – he’s dead wrong and we’re not going to tolerate his position.

Thanks for all you do.

Judy Abraham

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