Republicans in New Hampshire are trying to roll back marriage equality, but not all state conservatives support the effort. In today’s Concord Monitor, state Republican party Vice Chairman J P Marzullo describes his own struggle with accepting his gay son and implores the legislature not to infringe upon same-sex couples’ equality:
I ask those who represent us in the Legislature to think about this when they are ready to vote for the bill repealing same-sex marriage. One out of every three teenage suicides is related to being gay and the discrimination that they face every day. They come from sound, strong and (in many cases) Christian families with the same values as your families. They are here legally, have jobs, pay taxes and, yes, even serve in our military and have made the ultimate sacrifice as soldiers by dying for freedom and liberty.
I am a defender of the values of families, country, freedom and liberty, but I am also the father of a gay son who contributes not only to our country but also to our family. He is just like your son. And like your family, we want to leave him a better country and life, and that includes the same rights as married couples. I believe in freedom for everyone. We are blessed to live in a state where we can all be free to pursue our own happiness.
It’s refreshing to see members of the Republican Party take a stand for their own individual values rather than toeing the social conservative party line.
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