The letters to the editor section of your local paper is an ideal forum for sharing your opinion and story with the local community.  In addition, it is one of the first pages many elected officials turn to.  Letters to the editor show that an issue is of concern to the community and are excellent tools for education.  Here are a few guidelines for getting your letter to the editor printed.

• Localize your letter -- explain how marriage equality will affect you or people you know in your community.  Include examples of discrimination you or others have faced as a result of discriminatory marriage laws.
• Make your letter timely - if the newspaper has recently printed a story or column about the issue of marriage and same-sex couples, you can reference the article and use it as a springboard for your letter.
• Keep your letter short and to the point -- 250 words maximum.
• Your letter should carry its most important message in the first paragraph.
• Include your name, address and daytime phone number.  Editors like to call to confirm that the letter was actually written by the person whose name appears on the letter.
• Limit the number of points you make, and stay on the same subject.

Don't be disappointed if your letter does not get printed.  Newspapers get many letters every day and can't print all of them.  Most papers won't print the same writers over and over again.  Therefore, if you have had a letter published recently, try to get a friend or co-worker to sign the next one.

Don't be afraid to ask for action -- tell readers what you want them to do.  This includes your elected representatives; you can be sure they read the letters to the editor. 

HRC's field team is ready and willing to proofread your letter and to offer feedback and comments.  You can e-mail a draft of your letter to HRC's field organizers - just click here to look up field organizers in your region.  Be sure to include the name and state of the newspaper that you are planning to submit the letter to.

GLBT People and Marriage

Growing up, each of us is taught that one day finding a soul mate and building a life together is an integral part of the American dream, and GLBT people share in that dream. Gay and lesbian couples share their lives, their loves, and their hearts just like any other couple does.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples are patriotic, hard-working citizens who pay their taxes and support their country the same as any other American. GLBT couples love each other just as deeply and their commitment to one another is just as resolute as it is for heterosexual couples.

The 2000 Census showed that same-sex couples are living in nearly every county in this country. Estimates from the Census and other studies show that there are at least 1 million children in America being raised by GLBT parents. All children deserve the stability and protections that come from having two parents who are legally bonded by marriage. Discriminating against children just because of who their parents happen to be is wrong.

Marriage is a major building block for strong families and communities. Denying marriage to GLBT couples weakens GLBT couples and families.

The Basics of Marriage

Through marriage, couples are granted more than 1,000 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities under law - along with hundreds of state level rights and protections. The government uses the legal recognition of marriage to grant these rights, which include Social Security survivor benefits, hospital visitation rights and the ability to inherit a spouse's property without being taxed.

Many of the rights that come with marriage are recently established rights, not age-old traditions. For example, Social Security was established in 1935. Survivor's insurance was added in 1939. Family and medical leave didn't come into existence until the '90s.

Domestic partnership and civil unions are important steps to full marriage equality for GLBT couples - but they ultimately support the notion that GLBT couples are separate and unequal from other Americans, which is wrong.

Recognizing that GLBT couples have the same need for rights and protections that other couples do does not undermine or harm marriage rights of heterosexual couples. How can GLBT couples and families receiving the rights and responsibilities of marriage harm heterosexual marriage?

Shouldn't groups that support family values, value all families? Americans who support family values should support strengthening all American families.

Religious vs. Civil Marriage

Civil marriage and religious marriage are two separate things. Religious institutions will never be forced to bless relationships with which they disagree, just as today religious institutions can refuse to marry couples of different faiths or individuals who have been divorced.

Many religions and faith based traditions recognize and welcome gay and lesbian couples into their congregations - others do not. Religious institutions will always be able to define marriage as they see fit, however the state should treat all people and all families equally under the law.

Public Opinion

The country is grappling with this issue. We must educate people on the rights that come with a marriage license, and the difference between civil and religious marriage, and we must ensure that fairness is always a part of the discussion.

Majority support does not make something right or wrong. In 1983, 16 years after the Supreme Court struck down anti-interracial marriage laws in Loving v. Virginia, only 43 percent of Americans approved of interracial marriage.

In 1948, 19 years before the Supreme Court's ruling in Loving v. Virginia, the California Supreme Court ruled on an interracial case, Perez v. Lippold, with a four justice majority affirming the right of interracial marriages. The majority opinion said that each person seeking a license to marry the "wrong" kind of person, "finds himself barred by law from marrying the person of his choice and that person to him may be irreplaceable. Human beings are bereft of worth and dignity by a doctrine that would make them as interchangeable as trains."

The decision in Perez, marked the beginning of the end of race discrimination in marriage -- before legislators in most states were willing to stand against discrimination, and before the polls showed the public's acceptance of equality in marriage or other civil rights. Some state had to show leadership, and the court was properly asked to provide it through a direct and timely challenge to existing discrimination. History has upheld that decision, and we now view those judges as civil rights heroes.

Constitutional Amendment

Opponents of marriage equality are pushing a deeply discriminatory amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would forever ban legal recognition of GLBT families. If that effort succeeds, millions of Americans and their children will be put at risk and their lives made less secure.

Throughout American history, the Constitution has been amended to protect the rights and liberties of the American people. It has been amended to abolish slavery, keep the government out of people's lives, give women and young people the right to vote -- it should not be used to single out some Americans for discrimination.

This proposed amendment is an abuse of the Constitution for political purposes.