Statewide support for equal marriage

Ok, I have now seen one too many cartoons on your op ed page (Renton Reporter, Feb. 17) indicating that there are few, if any, people anywhere in Washington state – except in Seattle – who care about Equal Marriage Rights, safety for LGBT youth or adults, and equal health care for LGBT people. Today’s cartoon indicates that the artist and the newspaper agree that Seattle is the only place in Washington that is happy about the newly-signed Equal Marriage legislation.

February 23, 2012 2:42 pm

Ok, I have now seen one too many cartoons on your op ed page (Renton Reporter, Feb. 17) indicating that there are few, if any, people anywhere in Washington state – except in Seattle – who care about Equal Marriage Rights, safety for LGBT youth or adults, and equal health care for LGBT people. Today’s cartoon indicates that the artist and the newspaper agree that Seattle is the only place in Washington that is happy about the newly-signed Equal Marriage legislation.

You could NOT be more wrong!  No matter how unnoticed they are, there are thousands of people across our state who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (or questioning) and who are fearful every day that they will be harassed, assaulted, rejected by their families, hassled at their jobs, bullied at school, etc., etc.

I am a member of the PFLAG Seattle Chapter and a facilitator of the Renton PFLAG support meeting.  I have met and become acquainted with young and old, male and female and gender-fluid people living in all kinds of little and big towns across Washington state.

Please stop fueling the myth that there are LGBT people ONLY in Seattle and that it is the ONLY place where equal rights are supported.  We are ALL in this together!

Barbara Clark-Elliott

Renton