On Wednesday, MSNBC broadcast a story in which a 12-year-old boy, Daniel Martinez-Leffew, wrote a heart-felt letter to Supreme Court Justice John Roberts - just before the United States Supreme Court is to address the controversial issue of gay marriage.
In the letter, Daniel reminds Roberts that much like his family's situation, Roberts' family members include two adopted children. Very pointedly, Daniel asks Roberts to consider his family with adopted children in which there are two fathers to be just as valid as Roberts’ own family with two adopted children. The letter strongly suggests to Roberts that embracing the equality of marriage - via the ending of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8 - is the right thing to do.
Daniel’s letter was self-read before a video camera and posted on YouTube last week. Daniel, who was not adoptable until the age of 5 due to a genetic disorder called Goldenhar syndrome, was adopted by his dads, Bryan and Jay, when he became eligible for adoption some 7 years ago. Daniel, in the reading of his letter, says that he is lucky to have his two dads.
The message of Daniel’s letter can best be summarized in his own words:
I know you have a tough decision to make with the gay marriage issue, but my family is just as valuable and worthwhile as any other.
The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of DOMA and Prop 8 next week.
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