A mother’s love can be one of the strongest forces on earth. And when that mother can write well, we wind up with a letter such as the one Atrios (via Jim Henley at Unqualified Offerings, via Seablogger at Fresh Bilge, via Erik at SignalShift*) disinterred from a Vermont newspaper in April 2000. The author, Sharon Underwood, is the mother of a gay son, and in several hundred words of passionately argued prose, she destroys the facade of righteousness and religiousness displayed by intolerant haters.
You religious folk just can’t bear the thought that as my son emerges from the hell that was his childhood he might like to find a lifelong companion and have a measure of happiness. It offends your sensibilities that he should request the right to visit that companion in the hospital, to make medical decisions for him or to benefit from tax laws governing inheritance.
How dare he? you say. These outrageous requests would threaten the very existence of your family, would undermine the sanctity of marriage.
How dare he? you say. These outrageous requests would threaten the very existence of your family, would undermine the sanctity of marriage.
Go read the whole thing, and once you are done applauding and wiping your eyes, copy it, send it to your friends and family and your local newspapers.
