Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
As a gay American, I believe same-sex couples should be allowed to access the security and simplicity of marriage, just like everybody else.
On September 11, 2001, Mark Bingham helped liberate and protect an airplane. On another flight, parents Ronald Gamboa and Daniel Brandhorst perished along with their 3-year-old son, David Reed Gamboa Brandhorst. The co-pilot of the airplane that crashed into the Pentagon, David Charlebois, left behind Tom Hay, his partner of almost 13 years. On the ground, F.D.N.Y. chaplain Mychael Judge was the first official casualty of the attack. He was also gay.
These victims of terrorism perished that day, just like everybody else. If we are to triumph over these attacks on our freedom, we must unite. But how can we unite to defend freedom, when we deny it to ourselves?
We can bicker over gay rights, but we cannot afford to be divided over Freedom. The people of California, through our legislature, have asked you extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples. I wish you would sign AB 43 and let freedom ring.
Sincerely,