Ref. 74 ‘recognizes love and commitment’ | Letter to the Editor
Published 5:44 pm Friday, October 12, 2012
I share Claudine Gallacher’s concern for children and feel the need to address her letter posted Oct. 5. I would like to offer insight from a parent’s point of view to how approving Referendum 74 will benefit children and families in Redmond.
Children do best when raised by two parents, regardless of gender, as all studies in recent decades show. The Department of Health and Human Services, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics (which specifically encourages Washington to approve R74) show through research that children do best in stable two-parent households. And when those parents are married, the children thrive even more! What improves a family is marriage itself, and for that reason we should be encouraging all families to seek and honor marriage.
Rather than focus only on studies, and because R74 doesn’t legislate who can be parents, I would like to share with you my reality as your neighbor in Redmond. I am in a committed, loving relationship with my partner, Alex. I am a parent to one of the most grounded, intelligent 11-year-old boys you could ever meet. We are like so many families in Redmond; we balance the challenges of a busy 11-year-old’s schedule with swim team, soccer and cross country, combine our commitment to volunteering for many organizations across the Puget Sound, involve ourselves as citizens of our community, and hold on to the family time at home that I cherish so much. Sound familiar? That’s because we are the American family striving for the American Dream — except for one thing: right now we can’t be recognized by the state because Alex and I can’t get married.
I don’t feel Claudine knows families like mine, or she would see my child thriving in the stability of love and family, regardless of gender. This is my reality; I live it every day. Approving Referendum 74 will strengthen not only my family, but Redmond. Calling my marriage “something else” as you suggest only continues to hurt families by segregating our city, state, and nation — and is honestly unpatriotic. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” was not written to be exclusive, but rather to be inclusive, even to committed gay and lesbian couples. Aren’t our American principles built on more than what you describe? Doesn’t my son deserve more?
My family, co-workers and neighbors in Redmond and across Washington will be joining me in voting to approve Referendum 74 this fall in an important vote. It recognizes the love and commitment that is already present, and more personally shows my son that his family can be fully accepted by our friends, family and community. If you can’t approve it for me, I ask that you approve it for my son.
Chad Minnick, Redmond
