Call to support for Jason West

Dear Mayor West:

I am a 39 year-old homosexual male who had thought that the generation coming up after mine was extremely apathetic and content just not to be harrassed on the street.

You sir, have changed my attitude on that. Here in Houston, TX, I see young people and older people alike talking about this issue of same sex marriage and YOUR actions in particular with hope in their eyes and voice. They reason that it is one thing for the Mayor of San Francisco to start marrying same sex couples, but it is a different and FAR braver thing for a young, small town mayor to do so while stating that he is doing it because he feels it is the right thing. At the risk of sounding condecending, I am so proud of you!

The actions you have taken have caused me to research your campaign to become mayor and your stances on all issues (at least the information I could get my hands on), and I am very impressed with your stances on clean water and how to better purify the water supply while being environmentally positive. I also very loudly applaud your decision to run municipal vehicles on soy fuels. I am just impressed with you as a human being and a mayor and no amount of writing here is going to do you justice. I pray that in 9 years or so, when you are legally able to do so, that you will consider the Presidency. If you do, and don't win, I know you will make a very severe dent in the whole process and the duopoly of the two major parties.

My sincerest admiration and gratitude,

S. Bartholemieux "Drew" Andrews
Houston, TX 77019

I wish Mayors all around the Nation would perform
such noble deeds. Mayor West, God will bless you for your kindness.

We are supporting you every step of the way. You stand for what you believe is right. Thank you for not trying to fit with those who can't see beyond their noses that this is very unfair to those who don't match the stereotype. We are equally entittled to form a family just like everybody else. Those who are trying so desperately to stop gay people from being themselves are responsible for making this a society of hypocrites. Just living their lives to fulfill a social requirement. We are just trying to be fair, honest, and equal for everybody.

Jason, Thank you. As a gay man, it makes me feel good to know that there are some people who stand up for what is right. (They) say we made a choice, but this is not a choice, we were born this way. People have got to get this thru their thick skulls. We need to ask them "How are you heterosexual?"

Dear Mayor West;

I am a heterosexual woman from Torrington, CT, who has been married to a man for 28 years and then 10 more to my second husband. I applaude your efforts in supporting the civil rights of gays and lesbians. These folks are voter and taxpayers, having every right to equal rights of marriage. I am appalled at the reactions of some people who feel that they have the right and obligation to interfere in the choices of other Americans.

I called your office today to extend my support, and will maintain this stance. Many of my friends have chosen an alternate life style, and are very happy, but would like to be married so that they can be at their partners bedside when life's end arrives, or to make choices if one or the other cannot voice his/her wants and needs. Please keep up the fight. You are a good and wonderful person. Keep up the good work.

Lynn LaFountain
Torrington, CT 06790

Dear Mayor West:

I don't know where to begin. Though, as an educator and a counselor, I try to remain optimistic about the future of this country, the utter "darkness" (thanks, in part, to our current administration) had left me wondering whether there was any hope. Your courage and conviction - along with the mayors in California and Oregon - are proving to be the "shiny light" I so wanted to see.

Why, in a country that professes freedom and equality, can one class of people be denied the rights as well as the responsibilities enjoyed by other classes? How can any student of the Constitution fail to see how "laws" like DOMA on the federal level and those you are fighting in New York State are anything but violations of the Equal Protection Clause? My life has been made whole by sharing it with my lover, my best friend, my husband of almost twenty years. I have gone from sadness to outrage as ignorant, hateful, shall I go so far as to say "homophobic" individuals want to denigrate the best of what our country represents.

Keep the faith and keep fighting the good fight.

Peace,

Wendy H. North-Ollendorf
New Hartford, Connecticut 06057