My feathers are ruffled

Dear Mom and Dad,
     This week my feathers got a little ruffled. There is a group called NOM (National Organization for Marriage) that is touring the country. They speak out that marriage should be between a man and a woman. They are in Des Moines tomorrow and will be in St. Louis on August 5. The group claims that gay people are bullying and intimidating the supporters of this group. I do not know if they are lies or not. NOM says one thing and the gay and lesbian supporters say otherwise. What got my feathers ruffled was NOM supporters holding signs quoting of all things...Leviticus 20:13 about if a man lies with a man as he does with a woman they shall surely be put to death, blah, blah, blah. To me that says that as a lesbian, I should be put to death because I am in a committed relationship. What happened to loving your neighbor as you do yourself?
     The denial of marriage to same-sex couples is one of the harshest inequalities inflicted on lesbian and gay Americans and their loved ones. At one point in time, Brenda wanted to get married and I was dragging my feet because at that time states wouldn't allow gay couples to get married. Now some of them, including Iowa, are coming around. It was my opinion at the time, "Why bother", it isn't like we received the same rights as straight couples. My opinion has changed, however. It would be nice to have that commitment even if the law doesn't recognize it.
     Did you know there are over 1,100 protections and responsibilities conferred to married couples by the federal government including access to health care, parenting and immigration rights, social security, veterans and survivor benefits, and transfer of property.
     I do not see what all the hubbub is all about. Why shouldn't gay people have the same marital rights as heterosexual people? We pay our taxes just like everyone else. Marriage provides couples with thousands of state protections and responsibilities like including a spouse or a spouse's children on a health insurance policy, access to public housing designated for married couples and file joint state tax returns. I am fortunate to work for a university that allows me to include a "partner" on my health and life insurance but I can't get married in the state of Missouri so we could also file joint tax returns.
     What really stinks is if one of the people in the gay partnership gets sick, they cannot make any decisions about the care of that person even if they have been together for many, many years. The only way to get around this is to have a Power of Attorney.
     I just don't think this is the way God wants it to be. When I came out to the two of you, you told me I was made in God's image, He loved me and so did you. That was the best thing I could hear at that time. I know the God loves me. I am His child as are all of the other people on this earth. I just wish we could all get along and be afforded the same rights as everyone else.
     Some of my friends probably don't agree with me. They want to continue quoting Old Testament scripture that really doesn't apply to today's world, especially since it was written as Jewish law. I know that when Brenda had that study on homosexuality at church both of your eyes were opened, especially when the Rabbi came to one of the classes. If people are going to quote Leviticus, then they need to follow all of the laws in that scripture and not pull out what fits their purpose at a particular time.
     It is my opinion that if Jesus came back tomorrow, he would be dining at the houses of the gays and lesbians and not the supporters of NOM and all the other groups that go along with bigotry in some form or another.
     As always, I love you and miss you. Until next time. Your loving daughter, Judy.