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Is marriage equality a concept even a third-grader can uncerstand?
(The Center's press release): DENVER -- Some third-graders are mostly worried about recess. Not Ethan.
Ethan is a Denver third-grader who believes that everyone has a right to marry. In fact, he is so concerned about marriage equality and equal protection that he has organized a rally on the West steps of the state Capitol building to talk about it.
Ethan was inspired by his neighbors, who have a child his age but are unable to officially get married in Colorado. He decided that marriage equality is a civil rights issue and that all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, color or race, should have this right.
He made phone calls to elected officials. He got the necessary permits to hold the rally. He created a line-up of speakers. He hung up fliers in coffee shops, restaurants and churches around Denver.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado is supporting Ethan's efforts in notifying the public about his rally at the Capitol on Saturday, May 16, at noon.
"I think Ethan is doing a wonderful thing to raise awareness about marriage equality and equal protection," said Mindy Barton, legal director of the GLBT Community Center of Colorado. "The fact that an elementary school student can see that this is not political, not religious, but simply about equality, love and family, is truly impressive."
Editor's Note: To protect Ethan's privacy as a minor, we are intentionally not using his last name.
Comments
Hey Romigio,
I like that you are the Gay Cultural Examiner for Denver.
Compare and contrast; one of my high school english teachers drilled that into my head.? Compare and contrast: Slave rights and gay rights; the contrasts are easy, the comparisons are profound. Slaves could not get legally married either. They could not create and sign contracts, and what is marriage mostly (legally speaking) but a huge contract with thousands of rights and responsibilities.?Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke there last year saying, "That just like apartheid laws that criminalized sexual relations between different races, laws against homosexuality are increasingly becoming recognized as anachronistic and inconsistent both with international law and with traditional values of dignity, inclusion, and respect for all." ?Apartheid: A system of laws applied to one category of citizens in order to isolate them and keep them from having privileges and opportunities given to all others. ?Stop gay apartheid.
So, who's going to cover Ethan's eyes when he is exposed to the more outrageous GLBT behavior at this rally? Who explains to him what exactly "transgender" is? This issue is way beyond the simplistic 3rd grade idea that it's all about equality.
Its amazing to see how Ethan has a better understanding on love, tolerance and equality than some of the adults who seems to be blinded by hate and relgious extremism.
Way to go Ethan. You parents should be proud of you.
What an amazing kid!! I wish we had more Adults that can understand what this kids seems to be able to grasp. Very Inspirational!
Does Ethan have a grasp on what "transgender" means?? He shouldn't at his age.
Sheesh, people. I knew what homosexuality was by the time I was nine because I encountered the idea and asked my parents, and they answered. The word "transgender" shows up in the news all the time. All it takes is a kid asking questions. That or having a trans family member. It's not exactly a difficult concept.
The Lauderdale: Sorry to hear you were exposed to that at such a young age. Readin, Writing and Sex Changes...how sweet.
Nope: So sorry to know you grew with such bigoted viewpoints.
So when Ethan starts talking about the gay lifestyle at school to his fellow students, he won't be disciplined for that?
Would he be punished for talking about a heterosexual lifestyle?
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