Support Tennessee Families: Vote No on 1

My daughter Chloe’s best friend is Katie. They met at the same school, they sit together at church, and they’ve been to each other’s birthday parties. So this summer when my daughter got two tickets to “Barbie in Fairytopia,” Chloe wanted to invite Katie. The girls had the time of their lives. They clapped for Barbie, they booed the bad dragons, and they feasted on popcorn and cotton candy.

The thing is, Katie has two mommies. This may seem odd to some people, but it’s becoming more common in Tennessee. These two women met, fell in love, had a ceremony in front of family and friends, and managed through artificial insemination — like many infertile couples — to have a child. And here’s the shocker: Katie is great. She is a perfectly normal 4-year-old girl.

This discriminatory amendment also threatens a spouse’s right to make medical decisions, the right to medical information, inheritance without a will, child custody after one parent’s death, and Social Security Survivor’s benefits. Do Tennesseans really want to say to Katie that she can’t be on either of her parent’s health insurance? Do we really want to make it unconstitutional for her parents to share all the legal rights that Chloe’s parents do? I don’t think so. We Tennesseans are better than that.

A vote either way will not affect church beliefs or policies one whit. Just as the State recognizes marriages between divorced people and the Catholic church does not, gay civil marriage would not affect any church anywhere, nor require it to perform ceremonies. I am proud though, that Katie’s family joined our church and has been welcomed in the Christ-like fashion more churches are coming to support.

A recent survey shows that there’s no nationwide majority to support a gay marriage ban. Let’s stop the far-right minority from stirring up descrimination. Our Constitution promises liberty and justice to all Americans. Doesn’t that include Katie and her two mommies? Do the right thing for Tennessee families on November 7 and vote “No” on 1.

Take this pledge to vote “No” and tell your friends.