Inspirational Letter | A Letter to My Child | LGBTQ – A Note to My Kid

A Note from Shawna About Her Loving Son

Narrow mindedness saddens me! Gay isn't contagious, it isn't going to rub off on your child, it isn't going to invade your house and it isn't going to corrupt your children.My child is loving, smart and a leader. What my child can do is be a great friend, be open and honest, he will make you smile and sees the gentle loving side of life. He is dependable. It's hard to rely on a person who doesn't behave in a consistent and trustworthy way. He is REAL, With so many 'fakes' in the world, it can be hard to establish a real person. Why not stand out by being true to yourself and the people around you? His motto! He has a honorable character, the ability to be loyal. He is respectful. Good friends show respect for each other by being openly and mutually supportive. Yes my son is gay! and Yes he is the best. To the parents of teenage GIRLS! He is not going to come on to your daughters, he is a natural protector isn't all men, he isn't going to do things to devalue or demoralize your daughters- He may do there hair or give fashion tips, most likely gossip and discuss that cute new boy on the cover of the teen magazine, may even try this try out this new creative tip on painting nails...... He is the best friend a girl can ever have.......

A Note from Lisa and Fellow Students at Texas State University

My name is Lisa.

I stumbled upon this website, and I was inspired to help in some way. While I am not a parent, I am a student at Texas State University and I understand the struggle that kids can go through, so I decided to compile many reactions that other students have had to LGBT rights. I hope they serve to inspire someone one day. I just want children to be aware that there are people like them, and people who support and understand them. It's not all bad.

Each individual paragraph is a submission from a different person, with a different view. Ill attach it as a document and copy and paste it into this email.

Thanks for all the hope and support you provide,

- Lisa

• I feel like my sexuality is my business, and that power hungry politicians should not have a say in who I love. Everything that goes against homosexuality and the progression of gay rights is based on the bible, which is frustating. I'm not a Christian, but my rights get determined based off of Christian values and it isn't okay. Maybe I'm wrong, but if gays are able to get married, I don't think the United States will deteriorate.

• I have family members, both men and women who are homosexual and I love them to death, so if that is the way they chose to live then good for them. I support them in any way needed.

• It's none of my business who anyone loves and what they decide to do with their body. As long as they’re not harming or hurting themselves or anyone else it's not my place to interfere.

• I may not know much about DOMA or the Boy Scouts Ban or why exactly LGBTQ members can be fired. Maybe I sould read the news more. But my thing is that I don’t understand why they can’t get married. Is it hurting anyone to let them? No. Is it going to ruin anything? No. So it pisses me off. Everyone should have equality.

• I believe that LGBT rights/equality is the absolute biggest should-be non-issue issue of our time. The fact is that the LBGT community should be treated equally and with fairness and respect should be a given. We've been here before - we've done this to other groups before. We're supposed to learn from the mistakes in our past but we prove time and time again that humanity isn't that great with that concept and history will repeat itself. When we tell our LGBT friends, family, neighbors, coworkers that they are good enough to pay the same taxes we do, and to adhere to the same laws that we all must, but not good enough to get married, form legally recognized families, get equal healthcare/partner rights, be boy scouts or boy scout leaders, or when we use homophobic terms in casual conversation or in the realm of professional sports, we are sending a message directly to the ears of youth who are already struggling to find themselves and come to terms with their sexual orientation that they aren't good enough. We should never send a message to the youth of this nation or any other that they are inferior, or that they deserve less in life because of who they are. It's time we stand together on the right side of history and ensure that LGBT citizens are treated with all the respect and ensured the rights that all human beings deserve.

• Love is love and as long as it is two consenting adults no one should impede anyone's human right to pursue happiness.

• The state shouldn't be able to regulate marriage. Despite my beliefs, the idea that gay marriage would destroy the sanctity or marriage is silly....1) divorce rate 2) if marriage is solely a religious thing, then atheists shouldn't be able to get married either. People deserve to marry whoever they like and have the same legal rights. This is America right?? The land of the free......?

A Note to Brian and Christian, Who are Moving Far Away, From Your Chosen Family

We would like to start by quoting from “The Family Book,” by Todd Parr.

Some families are big.

Some families are small.

ALL families like to HUG each other!

Some families live near each other.

Some families live far from each other.

ALL families are sad when they lose someone they love.

Some families have two moms or two dads.

Some families have one parent instead of two.

ALL families like to celebrate special days together!

Some families eat the same things.

Some families eat different things.

Some families like to be quiet.

Some families like to be noisy.

Some families like to be clean.

Some families like to be messy.

ALL families can help each other be STRONG!

There are lots of different ways to be a family.

Your family is special no matter what kind it is.

Our family is special because it is all sorts of gay, straight, and crazy.

It is special because the universe conspired to bring us all together in one place at one time so we could choose each other. It is special because we share dreams and friends and food and wine. It is special because we love each other unconditionally—even though some of us are quiet and some of us are noisy, some of us are clean and some of us are messy, even though some of us eat tofu and some of us eat unicorn.

It is special because we support each other in everything we do—be it bacon doughnuts, talking kittens, waxed cracks, or a speech to LGBT youth. It is special because whether we make each other laugh, cry, scream, or roll our eyes, we always respect and forgive each other (well, almost always). It is special because even though we will soon live far from each other, there are no amount of miles that will change what each member of this family means to the other.

Brian and Christian, we will miss you both—Brian, your humor, your song and dance, your master cocktails; Christian, your perspective, your cool collectedness, your decadent desserts. Our lives and our dinner tables will not be the same without you.

However, we will never really truly be without you, because you will forever reside in our gay-straight-crazy little hearts—and because we will hunt you down and stalk you, wherever you go. That’s what makes our family special.

With love,

Deneene, Chris, Heidi & Michael (plus Wilder, Sage & Zach)

A Note to Ross From His Brother, Tom

Ross,

I am so very proud of you for giving yourself enough courage to publicly proclaim that you're gay. As your older gay brother, I vowed not to pry, not to disclose to anyone, and mostly be supportive of you in good times and bad. When someone would ask, I would simply reply "I'll love him no matter what." That was suffice for anyone asking.

To hear of your acceptance within our own family warms my heart. We all love and support you, and as your older brother, you are always welcome in my home at any time. I love you little brother, more than you know...

I encourage you to continue your life's adventure by accepting yourself, flaws and all, and getting to know that love in your life when he appears. I encourage you to take the bull by the horns and seize what life has to provide, for I know you will go far in life. I wish you the best and can only hope that someone can give of their heart in the same capacity as you give of yours. You're a terrific soul, kiddo... Truth be told, you're my secret hero.

Your big gay bro!

Tom

A Note to Jeff from Mom

Even before I knew I was pregnant and only to be confirmed when I first held you, I knew at that very second How amazing our path would be together! Each Day I marvel at your strength and am in awe over your youthful genuine pure heart. I am so honored to be given such a wonderful gift such as you Son! Everything about you is so perfect. Thank You for being My SON!

Love you always and stand aside through anything!

Keep up the Awesomeness!

From Proud PFLAG Member, Dawn Witter, to Her Babies (Danville, VA)

To my babies,

I love each one of you. I don't care who you were. I don't care what you've done. I don't care where you've been. I don't care how you've fallen. I love you.

I celebrate your successes, because you've earned them by hard work and determination. I celebrate your failures, because I have seen you struggle through them and use them as rungs on a ladder to climb up and out of the depths of despair. I celebrate your life experiences, because they have molded you into the most wonderful people I have met so far. I celebrate the heartaches we have faced together, because they have brought us closer than I could have ever imagined. I celebrate the human beings you are, so loving and caring and full of courage and compassion. I celebrate the people you are still becoming, watching you learn from each experience as they shape you into a being that will not stand for hate and intolerance and human beings that see their fellow humans as equals no matter what.

I wish for you to always see the good side to everything, because even the darkest moments in our lives can be the best lessons as well. I wish for you the clarity in every situation you face so the best decisions can be made. I wish for you strength to face everything you encounter with dignity and grace so the impact you continue to make is a positive one that the rest of humanity can learn from and follow. I wish for you happiness and love, no matter what form you find it in.

Above all else, I hope. I hope you understand how much you are loved. I hope you understand that everyone makes mistakes and that it is our job to recognize those mistakes and learn from them. I hope you succeed. I hope you endure. I hope you learn and pass on those lessons. I hope you find happiness and love. I hope you remember, always, that you are my joy. You are my reason for everything I do.

So, go. Out into that world full of judgment, disdain, corruption, and misery. Show those suffering that that world is but a sliver of what is waiting. Show them love, compassion, honesty, integrity, happiness, joy, equality and all the wonderful things in the world that you have shown me...

...And remember, above all, I love each one of you.

Dawn Nozzi Witter
http://pflagofdanville.org/

A Note to President Obama from Young Sophia Regarding the Love Between Her Two Dads and an Exceptional Reply from the President of the United States

With permission from Sophia's father, Jon Bailey of San Diego, we share this beautiful, heartfelt exchange between his daughter and the President of the United States:

A Note from Jedai to Her Best Friend, Jeff on His Birthday (Philippines)

Dearest Jeff,

As always, how’s life?

Everytime we meet, you’ll ask me, when did we start becoming friends? We just realized that it was when we had a punishment for being late in class which I knew we have in common. I never thought that cleaning our classroom would mark the start of our friendship almost eight years ago.

With those years, we parted ways yet we gained more friends. We excelled and failed at the same time. We were going through everything separately. Our friendship slept. Last 2008, it woke up when you accepted me to be a part of your friendly group. I didn’t expect you would be the person I could run into when it comes to ‘maturity talks’ and stuff concerning the future.

When you told me about your real identity, I loved and respected you more. I am happy because you’re not only honest to me, you’re also honest to yourself. I’m also glad for the trust you always give me and for the times you’ve been helping me to cope up and understand your world. I may not always be there when people would hurt you and want you to go on a competition with them but I want you to know that you are always a winner because you will let yourself be. You stand up and stay strong because we are here to support you, like what building pillars do.

Thank you for making one of my wishes come true, to have a best friend like you. You’re the kind of Jeff everyone must know. :) Thank you also for cheering me up especially these past few months when I thought the world’s giving up on me. Thank you for making me know you better, for the coffee (haha! I’ll treat you in our next hang out.^_^), the laughter and motivation.

I imagine us grow old chatting together with our better halves and talking about every single stuff we can talk about. Let’s make this imagination come true. Let’s stay beside each other, physically or technologically, until the time runs out. Let’s stay in touch together through texts, calls and facebook messages for now.

I wish you happiness, success and good health on your special day. I hope this one works. :)) Happy birthday, dear B! Stay blessed and happy! :))

Lovelots from your B,
Jedai

A Note to Mike from His Friend, Lindsey (San Diego, CA)

Dear Mike,

Seven years ago I went looking for a job and found a unexpected and extraordinary friendship. (The job was pretty awesome too.) Quite literally, from the moment I met you I loved you. You began as a welcoming and encouraging co-worker and evolved in to a person who has left a significant imprint on my life.

We have gone through a lot together in the years that we have been friends.  Death and loss, birth and joy. I miss the long conversations we had in your office or mine and the sensible, thoughtful advice you always had to share. I have learned so much from you. Through your relationship with your family, you've taught me the importance of patience and the value of believing in yourself. You showed me how to face adversity with grace and how to love with all you've got.  Your friendship has made me feel loved and cherished and beautiful. That, my friend, is not something you find every day. 

I regret that time and distance have pulled us a part a bit but I love cheering you on from afar. I am so very proud of you and the person you continue to become.  You only get better, even when that hardly seems possible. If only everyone had a Mike in their life! How much more wonderful the world could be. I'm so grateful you are in my life, Mike. I am a better person for knowing you and I love you more than you could ever know.

XOXO,

Lindsey

P.S. Something just reminded me of the mini-Beyonce cardboard cut-out that you made me for my desk and I can't stop laughing. Good times.

A Note to Leigh from A Note to My Kid Co-founder, Patrick Wallace (San Diego)

In the mid-90s, a passionate, comedic intellectual named Leigh -- the adventurous driver of a rustic, blue Volvo -- gradually became my rock.

Our friendship began in 1995 while we were attending the University of Oregon in the extraordinarily green college town of Eugene.

Long drives from school to the wild and windblown Oregon coast served as more than a simple change of scenery from college life to coastline bliss. They gave us a sense of freedom as we left all our troubles behind -- windows rolled down, arms surfing the wind, evergreens in every direction among buttes and rolling fields. We belted out songs by the Indigo Girls, Oasis and The Smiths in between conversations about tainted love, complex friendships and home.

What seemed like life-saving road trips at the time ultimately gave me the courage to turn to Leigh one night and tell her a story -- my first story -- about a guy that I "liked" rather than the standard story about guys who I thought were "cool." She accepted me every step of the way as I stuttered through explanations coupled by back-peddling and feigned attempts at rationalizing. In that moment she was the compassionate listener I had always hoped to find, but feared I never would.

Whether she realizes it or not, Leigh guided me toward living an authentic life during our college years (and well after) by teaching me self-acceptance and, beyond that, self-love. By being a true friend she also saved me from myself -- the person who previously disliked me more than anyone.

Our last ride in Leigh's steadfast, blue Volvo took place more than 14 years ago. The memories we created together in that car still make my eyes fill with water. For all these reasons, and many more, I will love her forever.

Today, smartphones and social networks have replaced our road trips. They'll have to do for now. That is, until we find the time to step away from our busy lives, sit in a car side-by-side and drive.

Also featured on the Huffington Post.