VOICE OF THE TURTLE Online - March 22-28, 2004
An Open Letter to the
President
From a Gay Parent
February 24, 2004
Dear Mr. President,
I could not avoid you tonight as your support for a federal constitutional
amendment banning same-sex marriage blared throughout the airport lounge via
CNN. As I listened to your confusing messages about family and values and
politics, I shared sadness with my fellow travelers about your continuing
fear-driven approach to leadership. Your defense of traditional marriage
rang hollow; rather, it was a poor endorsement for discrimination, ignorance
and your conservative political base.
Uncharacteristically, I decided not to be angry, offended or cynical.
Rather, I desperately want to understand you and your allies on this issue,
and take the high road in that engagement.
So I invite you, Laura and your daughters to spend a day with my family and
explain why you are championing such a cause.
Spend a day with my life partner of 24 years who is one of the most
remarkable human beings you'll ever have the privilege of meeting. A public
school teacher, Bob has spent his life inspiring students and parents alike
with his commitment to a values-laden and creative approach to learning,
serving as a strong life-changing role model for countless young at-risk
city kids over the years.
Spend a day with our energetic and cheerful seven year-old son Ben. Ben will
treat you to an active day full of homework, piano lessons, lego projects,
friends, chores, soccer and baseball. Fully steeped in the values of love,
sharing, friendship and learning, Ben is immensely proud of his two adoring
and engaged parents, and wonderfully enriched by a diverse and supportive
neighborhood.
Spend a day with our extraordinary community of friends and neighbors, who
reflect the America of today and the future - mixed in race, language,
background, family structures and ideas - but united in their deep
commitment to our children, to creating a better future, to loving our
country and to enjoying the richness of life.
Spend a day with our extended family that has supported us with
unconditional love through good times and bad. Our parents, aunts, uncles,
siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews spread around the country form the
foundation of our world. Over the years we have celebrated countless joyous
holidays and celebrations together, as well as helping them in endless ways
through illnesses, financial problems, divorces, and other family dramas.
Spend a day with us as we engage in our community as a family and as
individuals, as we actively volunteer at Ben's school, as we have headed up
the local United Way, and as we have worked tirelessly with many community
organizations to improve the lives of our less-fortunate neighbors. Come
join us as we sing and pray in church together.
Spend the day with me as the CEO of a fast-growing global digital media
company who understands the economic interests of supporting stable
communities and families, who must create a vibrant 21st century inclusive
workforce through rigorous recruiting and non-discriminatory practices, and
who is forever seeking that elusive family-life-work balance.
Spend the day with us as we explain to our son, his friends and cousins, why
the world can be a fragile place where people do bad things out of ignorance
and fear, where people hate people for silly reasons, where leaders abuse
power for political gain at the expense of innocent folks, and where people
waste enormous emotion and energy on side issues when domestic and child
abuse, poverty, racism, divorce and inadequate health care - the issues
truly threatening the American family - go unattended.
Mr. President, please come spend a day with us. And then, over our evening
family meal, after we have given our nightly thanks to our loving and
hate-free God, explain to this same-sex household just what family values
you are defending for the future of America.
Sincerely,
Steve Davis
Seattle, Washington
Rick Mixon Goes East
Many of you know
Rev. Rick Mixon or know of him. We’re happy to share the news that Rick has
been called by First Baptist Church of Granville, Ohio, to be their interim
minister. Rick is one of the pioneers among American Baptists in the quest
for justice and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
within the church. Rick was the co-chairperson of American Baptists
Concerned for many years and later served as its national coordinator. After
his departure from active leadership in ABConcerned, he continued to share
his insight, vision and humor with readers of Voice of the Turtle
through his column, Mixon’s Musings. Many back issues of VOT and Rick’s
column can be found on the Rainbow Baptists website for downloading.
http://www.rainbowbaptists.org/vot.htm
Rick a life long American Baptist became a member of Lakeshore Avenue
Baptist Church in Oakland in 1973 and was ordained there in 1996. Rick has
served as a pastoral councilor, assistant and executive director of a number
agencies. Rich has served on the board of Roger Williams Fellowship and been
in volved in the Baptists Peace Fellowship of North America. Recently he
served as interim minister at Dolores Street Baptist Church in San
Francisco.
FBC Granville is a historic congregation and a member of the Association of
Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. The church’s history includes being a stop
on the Underground Rail Road. Rick assumes the position of interim pastor
after the retirement of George Williamson. George and FBC worked together to
provide a welcoming church home for lesbian and gay Baptists in the Columbus
area and we know the congregation and Rick will continue the tradition along
with the other many ministries of FBC.