Letter to the Editor
The Indinapolis Star News

February 25, 1999

To the Editor,

The Family Research Institute's Micah Clarks offers nothing in his recent article in support of preventing gays from adoption except repeated dogma of stereotypical hate rhetoric. From where we sit this is nothing more than right wing propaganda intent on dehumanizing a segment of society to further their own political agenda.

Why else would these "family" organizations be spending millions of dollars on "curing" the incurable. The heterosexual divorce rate is so high, spousal abuse continues to rise, deadbeat dads are walking away from their children in record numbers. Why not focus on these family saving, important social issues? Our family and families like ours are not a threat to anyone. Yet they continue to exhaust their time, energy and money into having you believe we are.

In the face of scientific research from the worlds leading authorities he would have you ignore that and believe we are less then human. Believe that we are incapable of loving, nurturing long-term relationships.

He would like you to believe that homosexuality is based on sexual practices not orientation. Because he knows ones sexual orientation can not be cured or changed. As homosexuals who enjoy a loving sexual relationship, for the past 17 years, we must admit that even without sex we would still be homosexual.

The fact that homosexuals raise more homosexuals may appear to be true on the surface. Of course our children would not have any problem embracing their orientation if it should turn out that one or all are homosexual. We cannot with any confidence say the same of the children of heterosexuals who, in their hearts, hold such fear and hatred of homosexuality. Why do you think the teen-age suicide rate is so high for children struggling with their sexuality? It is because some people believe the damaging ranting of Micah Clark and those like him then repeat them at home.

History shows us another time in which entire segments of people were dehumanized through propaganda. When allowed to go unchallenged and unchecked they eventually were able to exterminate masses of them. However, this is not Germany. We will continue to stand up to be seen as the same, not as less than.

With that sameness, it is inherent and responsible of us to demand our equal rights. The right to bear, adopt and raise children. The right to marry and celebrate our relationships. The right to work where our talents are useful and needed. These rights are inalienable. They will come, but at what price.

Will Indiana sell out their most vulnerable resource? It is wrong for children, in desperate need of good loving permanent homes, to be turned into political pawns of right wing groups looking for campaign dollars. They are too precious. Their lives should not be toyed with so carelessly.

We have three children, one adopted son and two foster daughters. They are thriving which can not be disputed. Our family functions like many families throughout America. Michael works full time while Jon stays home, full time, with the children. We have more in common with June and Ward Clever than could be imagined, yet we are different. We beg of all fair-minded citizens to look for our common threads not our differences as we look for yours.

That is what America is all about, isn't it?

Jon and Michael Galluccio
Maywood, NJ
family@galluccio.com
http://www.galluccio.com