Dear Senator Ball --
I'm not one of your constituents, but I'm writing you anyway because your actions affect have a profound effect on my well-being and happiness as a resident of New York State.
I am a hard working New Yorker. I pay taxes (which pay your salary) and I contribute to my church and several charities. I am also a gay man in a 15 year committed relationship with a man I love and want to marry. I have advanced degrees in science and theology, so I am intimately familiar with the most current scientific research on homosexuality, as well as with the passages being cited to justify continued discrimination against LGBT people. I can state without equivocation that the evidence continues to mount against a narrow-minded and bigoted understanding of the LGBT experience. To be blunt, you are on the wrong side of history.
The United States of America is a country based on the ideals of justice and liberty. For me, this means that I should not be allowed to interfere with the private lives of my fellow citizens, including those who happen to be fundamentalists or extremely conservative in their views. They should be allowed to worship as they see fit, and marry the person they love. But the notions of liberty and justice demand that I be offered the same freedom. There is no rational argument that can deny that fairness requires that I be treated with the same dignity and respect as my fellow citizens.
I am deeply disappointed in you for voting no. I hope you can reflect on the mistake you are making, and I hope you feel a sense of shame in denying so many New Yorkers the basic joy that comes from living a life married to the person that they love.
In closing, you should realize that I and many of my friends will do everything we can to defeat you in your next bid for re-election. I may not be a constituent, but I will make substantial contributions to your opponent, and will organize others to do the same.
Sincerely yours,
Clay Williams, PhD
1 comment:
Great letter Clay. I met with Greg in his office on a lobby day 2 years ago. He had a giant picture of RFK in his office. His vote demonstrates he is nothing like RFK, but more like George Wallace, standing in the way of equality.
I am one of his constituents...and he has no clue what his constituents want. All he cares about is his own publicity and not disappointing his father....
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