Here are a couple of short videos I took last week of the grounds here around Casa Tipton-Kelly (our home) here in Sussex County, Delaware. Even though all five of our state legislators voted against marriage equality for same sex couples, we gay folk here in Sussex County live in perhaps one of the most open minded and accepting communities in the United States. Even though Sussex County Delaware had the fourth largest gay population of couples, we can now get married in spite of all five of our state legislators who continue to myopically vote against us for full equality.
I meant for this blog posting to be all light and airy to offset my mean-spirited previous blog posting about why I don't watch "American Idol" anymore, but I just drifted into bringing to everyone's attention that the battle isn't totally won. Hopefully the day will come when our local politicians recognize and affirm that they represent ALL of their constituents, including the LGBT community.
Last week I wrote a letter to our local newspaper bringing to everyone's attention that both of my elected representatives at the Delaware State legislature didn't even have the common courtesy to answer or even acknowledge two hand written letters that I sent to them asking for their support of the Marriage Equality bill in Delaware. I don't have a big problem with them disagreeing with me (actually I do) but at least they could acknowledge my letters. To not do so only confirms my concern that they still view me as "less than." I even invited both of them to our upcoming wedding. We need two witnesses. This is their opportunity to redeem themselves. Think they will take the offer?
Last July on a late Saturday afternoon I heard my doorbell
ring. I answered the door and
there stood an earnest and pleasant looking young man. He introduced himself as Stephen Smyk
and said he was a former state trooper and he was campaigning for my district’s
seat in the Delaware House of Representatives. He said he was the candidate representing “family
values” and asked for my support
in the upcoming election. Of course, I as a gay man recognized this red flag
statement of “family values” as “I
am the candidate of the straight people who will keep ‘the gays’ from taking
over.” I stated to Mr. Smyk “I’m
gay, does that include me?” Mr.
Smyk’s smile disappeared and he was momentarily was thrown off his script. He probably
thought I was straight because I live in a predominately straight development
just outside Lewes. Mr. Smyk then did
his best Jackie Gleason imitation of “Hum ah hum ah humm hummm…….” I forget the exact words he used in his
response to my question but I do remember I felt sorry for him because I
obviously threw him off balance during his campaign swing through what he
obviously thought was a 100% straight neighborhood.
Last month Governor Markell introduced HB75 for marriage
equality in the State of Delaware. I was asked to testify in favor of marriage
equality. My partner Bill Kelly
and I have been together since July 3rd, 1964 This July we will celebrate 49 years together. Like Mr. Smyk, both Bill and I are
veterans. I am a veteran of the
U.S. Army (three years) and Bill is also a veteran of the U.S. Army (over four
years) and the U.S. Air Force (another four years).
I was also asked to write letters to both my
representatives, Mr. Smyk and Mr. Lopez (Senator Ernie Lopez who I haven’t
met). I was asked to hand write
the letters because I was told a hand written letter would be more effective in
receiving a response. I wrote a
total of two letters to both Representative Smyk and Senator Lopez.
Much to my surprise and disappointment, neither Mr. Smyk or
Mr. Lopez considered me, as a gay man and a veteran, worthy of a response to any
my personal letters to them requesting that they support HB75.
Representative Smyk and Senator Lopez represent the largest
concentration of gay and lesbian couples in the state of Delaware. That both of them voted against the
marriage equality bill (HB75) says a lot about their concern and commitment to
a significant part of their electorate.
And that both of my elected representatives ignored my letters also
tells me that they do not consider me worthy of a response. I’ve heard the excuses that they were
“overwhelmed.” I don’t buy
it. I have always received a
response from any Delaware state elected official that I have written too. Always. I have always received responses from my elected
representatives when I lived in Pennsylvania even though they were Republican
and disagreed with me. They always
gave me the respect that I was due as
their constituent.
I urge my gay and straight fellow citizens who believe all
citizens if Delaware should have the ability to get married and thus has the
dignity and protections accorded to other Americans to remember that
Representative Smyk and Senator Lopez voted against equality the next time they
are at the ballot box. To remember
that Representative Smyk and Senator Lopez do not value all of their
constituents equally. To remember
that both of these elected representatives, by their “no” vote for marriage
equality, view some of their constituents as “less than.”
Vote for a representative and senator who values ALL
families. Vote for a
representative and senator who at least have the common courtesy to respond to
a constituent’s handwritten letter, even if they do disagree with that
constituent.
I’ve been on this earth for 71 years. For too many of those years I have been
disrespected, humiliated, discriminated against and been threatened with
physical violence just because I chose to live my life as an openly gay
man. I moved to Delaware for my
retirement in November of 2006 because of its gay friendly reputation. I did not want to live out my
retirement years in a community where I was viewed and treated “less than.” Bill and I have found Delaware and our predominately
straight neighborhood friendly and accepting of us regardless of whether we
were gay or not. Thus was a rude
awakening and very disappointing to discover that both of our elected officials
in the Delaware state government do not represent us, and our “family values”.
Bill and I have been in a loving and committed relationship
for almost 49 years. We will be
married on our 49th anniversary this July 3rd in our back
yard. And hear this Representative
Smyk and Senator Lopez, our family values are just a legitimate as yours. It’s not too late to accord us the
proper respect to which we are due by acknowledging our existence. I invite both of you to our
wedding. We need two witnesses.
8 comments:
GO GET 'EM, RON! then vote 'em out of office for not supporting you!
Casa Tipton-Kelly and backyard look beautiful! Do you have to water all that lawn in summer or do you let it dry out?
It's really an outrage that your handwritten letters to the state representatives went unanswered - - but your eloquently written letter to the newspaper is a big compensation and I'm sure will have a very positive impact.
I like the videos of your gorgeous yard - what a peaceful and perfect setting!
Jon,
That's what I thought too, it was an outrage that my letter were never answered. Over the years I have written many letters (not so much the past twenty years) to local, state and national politicians. They have almost always answered my letters, even though some of the letters were obviously boiler plate letters. At least they acknowledged me. However, these two local politicians, don't even have the common courtesy to even acknowledge my existence? My first two letters were hand written and two pages. I was advised that a hand written letter would receive more attention than an e-mail letter. I was very surprised when I didn't even get a response. It's not like we have a big district here. I think the total votes for these two was less than 2,000. Both ran against gay candidates who lost. I think the next election some of my gay friends will pay a little more attention at voting time and vote these two birds out.
Thanks for the compliment on our back yard, which is my reason for being. I've always wanted my own back yard, lush with greenery and wildlife. Not too much wildlife like we had in Pennsylvania (the deer ate up most of our backyard). This is my "Goldilocks" backyard. Not too much, not too little, just right.
By the way, I enjoy all your Facebook postings. Keep up the good work. Your humor is coming through.
Ron
Damn straight.....er RIGHT Anne Marie!
Ron
Nadege,
Yes, our backyard is beautiful. Even more so in person. How do we water it? A very expensive installed lawn irrigation system. It was expensive to put in but well worth it because the lawns do tend to dry out here in the height of the summer. There is nothing like coming home to a lush green lawn in the heat of summer when others are baked brown. Also, the irrigation is good for the plants, flowers and birds. Especially the birds, they love it!
Ron
My experience is that no letters are ever answered. Aides and interns allegedly read them, and tally the "sides" on each "issue", and provide that to the "representatives" as a composite - "10 letters for gay marriage, 8 letters against gay marriage". Don't even expect anyone to do more than glance at a subject line of an email. Phone calls are a joke, the representative is never in, even if you can see them sitting at their desk with a slice of pizza in their hand!
Peace <3
Jay
Jay,
You're probably right. I used to write a lot of letter to the editor and some to politicians back in the 80's. Almost always the letters to the editor were published and the politicians answered my letters, even if it was a form letter. What surprises me that I wasn't even worthy of a form letter from my local state senator or representative. I was totally ignored. I was sure if I wrote a hand written letter that would at least be acknowledged but I think the reason it wasn't was because I am gay. It is as simple as that.
Ron
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