Bishop Malone theorizes that if Gays and Lesbians are allowed to marry it will have a detrimental effect upon heterosexual marriage.  He felt so strongly about this that he allowed political action (gathering of signatures) to take place in a tax exempt structure (the Church).

In so doing he showed total disregard for the separation of church and state.  Many churches wish to marry same sex couples others do not.  The current law honors both religious beliefs. Do we really want the State to favor one faith’s wishes over another? Do we want to set a precedent of the populace voting on religious issues?  Marriage should be considered a civil issue and as such Gays and Lesbians deserve the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness that others have.

I am the founder and CEO of Christopher Aaron Counseling Center in Gray Maine. We are committed to people receiving mental health support regardless of their ability or lack thereof to pay for services. To that end I carry a caseload of twenty-five to thirty Clients. I am a Child and Family therapist who has been in practice for eight years now.  I specialize in working with survivors of Trauma, Domestic Violence, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have also worked with survivors of childhood sexual abuse by priests. I do individual, couples, family and group work.  I have also been in a committed relationship to the same wonderful man for the past ten years.  I couldn’t have made it to where I am today without his love and support. In Social Work there is a practice called professional use of self.  I use what have learned from my parent’s marriage, my sister and her partner’s marriage (they married in Canada two years ago) and my partners and my loving commitment. We will marry as well; it is merely a question of when my state recognizes that we are equal to others and have the same rights and responsibilities as all citizens of this fair state. Until then we have the status of Domestic Partners.   As Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka Kansas proved separate cannot be equal.

 As I stated my partner and I have been together for ten years.  With our family and friends present we had our commitment ceremony August 25th 2001. We attended his daughter’s and her husband’ wedding last year and his son’s and his wife’s wedding this year.  We have owned a home together for eight years.  We pay our taxes and are very involved civically. We are a family.

My partner is an amazing man. He held me as a cried on 9/11 when we did not know the whereabouts of our dear friend Karen who works at the World Financial center.  He gave a sigh of relief  when we found out that while she was present when the plane hit she did survive by running away as the buildings collapsed. My partner was at my side when I learned that my mother had Parkinson’s.  He smiled as our family watched fireworks in Rangeley as we entered a new Millennium. We laugh together with our friends.  We enjoy the antics of our beloved pets. We also share the pain of knowing that life is fleeting and we must make the most of each minute.

Last year my sister and her female life partner of 24 years as well my partner and I hosted my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party at our home.  Our extended family came and I have never been more proud of my Mom and Dad for their perseverance through good times and bad.  Their marriage has not been damaged by the fact that the have a Lesbian Daughter and a Gay son who are in long term committed relationships.  On the contrary, they are comforted knowing that the four of us are there for them at holiday events family gatherings and yes when medical emergencies and other tragedies occur. They love my partner’s mother brother and our nephew’s and nieces.

I was raised in the Nazarene faith.  I remember from my childhood many members of my Church thought that the Pope was the Anti-Christ. I distinctly remember my Grandparents stating that as fact.  I did not believe this. In fact my first real girlfriend at age eighteen was Catholic.  We talked of having children together and I agreed to raise those children Catholic.  It was not to be though. I knew in my heart that I was gay and could not go forward and continue to lie to her and to myself.  She is now married and has children and I am happy for her.

So I ask of you, why I should be denied equal protection under the law in a Republic which is designed to protect the liberty and justice of all?

Sincerely;

Lawrence N. ( Lonnie) Leeman