Family
I have many things to talk about, like fandoms I'm newly into and what I'm writing for NaNoWriMo this time around and my amazing trip to New York City last Saturday (I have lucky timing, to say the least) but for right now I want to share something my brother Andy sent me.
First, he emailed me this video of Republican Washington State Rep speaking in support of gay marriage.
Then, he emailed me mentioning that he had emailed her and she had written back.
Dear Representative Walsh,
My name is Andy Crooks and I'm emailing to simply thank you for everything you have done to support gay and lesbian rights. I am not one of your constituents (I'm not even from Washington state - I grew up in Portland, Oregon), and I have never written a politician in my life, but your speech in front of the legislature along with the talk you gave at Whitman College have resonated with me - I have watched both many many times.
I am twenty-seven years old and a third year student at Syracuse University College of Law in Upstate New York. Like you, I am fiscally quite conservative and I agree with many of the fiscal policies championed by the Republican party. I'm also a strong proponent for small government. But the problem in voting for most Republicans for me is that I cannot consciously vote for someone who believes that, under the eyes of the law, I should be treated differently. I think there are a lot of gays and lesbians out there that have a similar viewpoint.
You, to me, are extremely brave and extremely courageous. To go out on a limb and listen to your conscience and your heart when so many of your constituents don't agree with you takes so much strength. I think, though, as you probably have realized by now, your actions on this issue are powerful and have resonated and I can say as someone who contemplated suicide at a couple different times during my youth that you are absolutely helping save lives and you are telling children all over the country that they matter and they can absolutely be a valued and cherished member of society.
As a mother, your words also carry special meaning for me and probably help explain why I have fallen in love with your speeches and your points of view. My mom passed away five years ago. She fell into a coma and about four days later the doctor sat me and my sisters down and told us that she wasn't going to make it. He called the chaplain in to talk to us and it is at that point that I broke down and came out for the first time. My mother never got a chance to really know me and it still breaks my heart to this day. I have no doubt that, like you, she would have come to realize that I'm no different from anybody else and I can't control who I'm attracted to, but it's still painful to know that I didn't get to share that side of me with her and show her who I really was.
You don't have to respond to this. I just wanted to let you know that you have a fan and admirer in Upstate New York.
I am rooting for you and I sincerely hope you get reelected next week!! All the best.
Andy Crooks
And her response - which let me just say it's amazing that she wrote him back.
Andy - thank you for your beautiful letter. Please don't fret that your Mom did not know anything about who you are - because it would have made no difference in how she loved you. Like I say in my speech "after my daughter came out to me, I thought I was going to agonize about it (only because parents love their kids and know there are haters in the world - so they worry!) but nothing is different - she's still a fabulous human being." And I can tell you are too - and I'll bet it would not have made any difference to your Mom whether you were gay or not (just the worrry part).
Thanks for the good luck wishes! Just one week to go - I am ready for this election to be over! Peace, Maureen
How incredibly, absolutely amazing is my brother? I wish I could tell you adequately how proud I am of him. I remember so clearly the day he came out to me, six years ago. He was terrified. I was the only person he told for an entire year, until the aforementioned coming out when my mom died. And here he is, this amazing man. I just want to give him the biggest hug ever.
Oh, and here's a picture I took of him a month ago when I went to visit him in New York and cheer him on as he ran his very first marathon. We both bawled.
First, he emailed me this video of Republican Washington State Rep speaking in support of gay marriage.
Click to viewThen, he emailed me mentioning that he had emailed her and she had written back.
Dear Representative Walsh,
My name is Andy Crooks and I'm emailing to simply thank you for everything you have done to support gay and lesbian rights. I am not one of your constituents (I'm not even from Washington state - I grew up in Portland, Oregon), and I have never written a politician in my life, but your speech in front of the legislature along with the talk you gave at Whitman College have resonated with me - I have watched both many many times.
I am twenty-seven years old and a third year student at Syracuse University College of Law in Upstate New York. Like you, I am fiscally quite conservative and I agree with many of the fiscal policies championed by the Republican party. I'm also a strong proponent for small government. But the problem in voting for most Republicans for me is that I cannot consciously vote for someone who believes that, under the eyes of the law, I should be treated differently. I think there are a lot of gays and lesbians out there that have a similar viewpoint.
You, to me, are extremely brave and extremely courageous. To go out on a limb and listen to your conscience and your heart when so many of your constituents don't agree with you takes so much strength. I think, though, as you probably have realized by now, your actions on this issue are powerful and have resonated and I can say as someone who contemplated suicide at a couple different times during my youth that you are absolutely helping save lives and you are telling children all over the country that they matter and they can absolutely be a valued and cherished member of society.
As a mother, your words also carry special meaning for me and probably help explain why I have fallen in love with your speeches and your points of view. My mom passed away five years ago. She fell into a coma and about four days later the doctor sat me and my sisters down and told us that she wasn't going to make it. He called the chaplain in to talk to us and it is at that point that I broke down and came out for the first time. My mother never got a chance to really know me and it still breaks my heart to this day. I have no doubt that, like you, she would have come to realize that I'm no different from anybody else and I can't control who I'm attracted to, but it's still painful to know that I didn't get to share that side of me with her and show her who I really was.
You don't have to respond to this. I just wanted to let you know that you have a fan and admirer in Upstate New York.
I am rooting for you and I sincerely hope you get reelected next week!! All the best.
Andy Crooks
And her response - which let me just say it's amazing that she wrote him back.
Andy - thank you for your beautiful letter. Please don't fret that your Mom did not know anything about who you are - because it would have made no difference in how she loved you. Like I say in my speech "after my daughter came out to me, I thought I was going to agonize about it (only because parents love their kids and know there are haters in the world - so they worry!) but nothing is different - she's still a fabulous human being." And I can tell you are too - and I'll bet it would not have made any difference to your Mom whether you were gay or not (just the worrry part).
Thanks for the good luck wishes! Just one week to go - I am ready for this election to be over! Peace, Maureen
How incredibly, absolutely amazing is my brother? I wish I could tell you adequately how proud I am of him. I remember so clearly the day he came out to me, six years ago. He was terrified. I was the only person he told for an entire year, until the aforementioned coming out when my mom died. And here he is, this amazing man. I just want to give him the biggest hug ever.
Oh, and here's a picture I took of him a month ago when I went to visit him in New York and cheer him on as he ran his very first marathon. We both bawled.