All Kinds of Families: Maine’s Marriage Equality Hearing
You really had it all inside the Augusta Civic Center yesterday. On our side, Catholic church ladies opposing the bishop; couples together for 30, 40, 50 years; crusty Mainers supporting their gay children; Republicans, veterans, couples with kids. But for me, a highlight was the testimony of Steve Wessler, head of Maine’s Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence.
To no one’s surprise, Lexington’s David Parker made the trip to Maine to tell his distorted tale of woe: how marriage equality in Maine would inevitably force the schools to teach homosexuality to kindergartners and prevent parents from transmitting their own values to their kids. He told how the frightening book “Who’s in a Family?” was sent home in a “diversity book bag” and how when he went to the school to object, he was arrested.
While Mr. Parker was testifying, GLAD’s Mary Bonauto and Steve Wessler conferred quickly. GLAD is thoroughly familiar with the Lexington case, since it’s in our backyard and we filed an amicus brief supporting the schools. And no one knows a good strategic opening – and how to take advantage of it – like Mary.
So when Steve was next up to testify, he put aside his prepared remarks and rebutted Mr. Parker in fairly devastating fashion. His points were these:
First, the Massachusetts curriculum was in place in 1999, long before marriage equality in the Commonwealth. Mr. Parker’s problems with the curriculum are completely unrelated to marriage equality.
Second, Mr. Parker was arrested because he refused to leave the school at his meeting’s end, and he wanted to be arrested. He committed an act of civil disobedience, but it was not based on the content of his objections
Third, and most importantly, the book. Steve held up a copy of the book, and read aloud the page which so troubled Mr. Parker. Here it is verbatim: “Laura and Kyle live with their two moms, Joyce and Emily, and a poodle named Daisy. It takes all four of them to give Daisy her bath.” See it for yourself, here.
Pretty scary. As Steve went on to say, the book is about family, all kinds of families, and the love and commitment that go into making a family. And that’s what marriage equality is about.
It was sweet. If you weren’t there, you can listen to this Maine Public Broadcasting story, which includes the takedown.
You can also see video of Steve’s testimony here:
For more information, see:
Massachusetts, Marriage Equality, and Schools: A Fact Sheet for Marriage Equality Supporters