Dear Ms. Gallagher,

I recently watched your debate with Human Rights Coalition’s Joe Solmonese on MSNBC’s program Hardball. After hearing your side of the discussion, I feel compelled to contact you in regards to some of the erroneous points you made while on air.

You and your group’s advertisement bring up several events that occurred in various states which you have latched onto as points against the marriage equality movement. You and your group’s advertisement have boiled those issues down to such a simplified statement that they bear little resemblance to the actual events they are referring to. I could spend the time to go over the events and explain what really happened to you, but I feel this would be a waste of time, as this information is readily available and has already been twisted by your group to suit its own viewpoint. However, it all boils down to the fact that these events had absolutely NOTHING to do with marriage equality and everything to do with the pre-existing anti-discrimination laws that were on the books in the states these events took place in long before marriage or civil unions were available to LGBT people. You’re advertisement, filled with gloom and doom, claims that same-sex marriage advocates won’t stop at simply getting their rights, but will continue on to infringe on the rights of others. Yet the laws that were at the heart of the events that are mentioned were already in place BEFORE the marriage equality issue was raised. I’m sure I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask out of morbid curiosity: Why are you using these incidents to attack same-sex marriage rights and not the pre-existing anti-discrimination measures which were clearly the real issue?

In a response to an email you recently received from another person questioning your motives, you wrote “I could say: why are you trying so hard to change the public meaning of marriage? Why not focus on benefits?” I’m sure that by now, you are aware that the real issue here IS indeed benefits. This idea that the LGBT community is attempting to change the public meaning of marriage is quite preposterous, considering that a marriage means something different to everyone in the first place. Furthermore, marriage has been redefined by every nation, culture, religion, and society throughout the history of the world. I would remind you that this notion of “one man, one woman” marriage is actually very recent in regards to the span of human history and not this notion of a “5,000 year old tradition” that some people with your viewpoint cling to. From the various forms of polygamy in the Middle East of Biblical times, to the arranged marriages of Hindi and Medieval Age Europe, to the actually documented same-sex marriages that occurred in the ..Roman Empire.., it’s quite clear that marriage is redefined by everyone who gets married.

In that same email, you also wrote “Why do you need to try to force the law to say something that most Americans just don't agree with: that your relationship is a marriage? It probably wouldn't be a productive conversation but just so you know there are two points of view on this.” My counter to this is that, unfortunately, “most” people can be wrong, and often are. I’m sure you’d be on the side that thinks “most Americans” were wrong in voting for President Obama. “Most” people once thought that the world was both flat AND the center of the universe. “Most” people in America during the Revolutionary and Civil wars thought that slavery was acceptable and held the view that black slaves were not people, but property. “Most” people once believed that women should not be allowed to vote. And of course, “most” people in 1967 America believed that interracial couples should not be allowed to marry.  It took “activist judges” to correct that issue. Of course, the state legislature of Vermont are not “activist judges,” yet I’m sure you don’t agree with their recent marriage equality ruling. Your side instead thinks that these lawmakers are out of touch with the public. But the purpose of the government is not only to rely on input from the public, but also to protect the public from itself. A member of the British Parliament once wrote “A representative owes the people not only his industry, but his judgment. And he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion.” Personally, I prefer the more humorous “Never underestimate the power of Stupid People in Large Numbers.” Now that could easily be used by either side of this argument. And you are certainly correct in saying that it probably wouldn’t be a productive conversation as each side is just as set in their belief that they are right as the other. However…

History shows us that our side, the side of Marriage Equality, will come out the victor. This fight is almost Machiavellian in a way. A subjugated and suppressed people can only be put down for so long before they stand up and demand their rights. A slave has nothing to lose and everything to gain, while the oppressor has everything to lose. And despite how the “Christian Right” or the “Moral Majority” enjoy portraying themselves as the oppressed victim, they are actually the oppressors. What this battle truly comes down to, madam, is that you and your associates are using FEAR to deny a basic civil right to a group of people based entirely on religious principle,  a religious principle that is quickly becoming obsolete and archaic. And despite how strongly you and your associates may feel you are in the right, I have no doubt that future generations will, and already do according to most polls, see you as being on the wrong side of history. Today’s youth already overwhelmingly support full rights for the LGBT community. You and you’re association will eventually be seen in the same light as the Aryan Nation and the Taliban. Frankly I see very little difference between the villains who destroyed the Twin Towers and people like you, who are using archaic religious fundamentalism to deny a group of long oppressed people their basic rights.

If you are indeed more concerned about your own rights than the rights of gays and lesbians to get married, as you so claim, than might I suggest taking a different approach? Instead of rallying your troops against marriage equality and using your fear of government interference in religion because of it, how about simply trying to retain your own rights. I beseech you to lay down your arms against same-sex marriage. All you are doing is showing the world that you are filled with hate towards the LGBT community. Nothing good can come from opposing another groups rights. Instead of being on the negative side of the marriage equality battle, make yourselves the positive side of your own battle. Stop seeking to deny gays and lesbians their rights, and start seeking only to protect your own. I’m sure it’s quite possible for a group as intelligent as yours to wage the fight for your own rights without attempting to take away the rights of others or even mentioning the other groups battle for equality. Certainly no one on the side of marriage equality is actively trying to deny religious institutions their freedoms. If you really do fear that some of your religious freedoms are endangered as a side effect, than take up your own fight to protect those freedoms. Do not waste your time only trying to deny others theirs. I have my doubts, however that you and your kind are able to do such a thing. I doubt very highly that this is really about retaining your rights and more about denying us ours. I have no doubt that your real concern here is your outdated moral view of same-sex marriage and not the possible ramifications of its legitimization for your side. But again, if you are truly only interested in protecting your own rights, perhaps instead of attacking gay rights laws, you should be attempting to strengthen your already existing religious protections. By leaving out any mention of the LGBT Civil rights fight, you would certainly be seen in a better light by the majority of Americans. But as I have already said…the Majority can be wrong.

I plan on using the above letter to make a Youtube video similar to V's Guy Fawkes day speech in V for Vendetta.