Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing the new Washington United for Marriage ad during the Rachel Maddow show here in support of Washington State referendum 74.
The ad is a very simple one, with a set of parents discussing how they felt when their adult daughter informed them she is a lesbian. Their instincts were so natural, they wanted to make sure she was treated the same as their other two daughters.
Marriage is a way that we recognize a lifelong commitment that two people make to each other. When I lay my head down for the very last time, I need to know that there is someone who loves them and and is taking care of them and thinking about them and that's what happens in a marriage.
As a card carrying member of the gay maffia, I generally don't feel too much when I hear these ads that are obviously targeting undecided and middle-of-the-road straight voters. But this quote, and the emotion coming from the parents, gave me a different perspective.
Instead of looking through my own eyes or those of my friends who feel unequal compared to coworkers who get added benefits and security for their families, I could see through the eyes of a mother wanting to make sure that their child is taken care of when they are gone.
For many parents, marriage is the institution they look to to ensure their kids are taken care of by a spouse and supported by society. Marriage is how this mother could be confident that their daughter had the same opportunity as her other children to have security when she was no longer there, that someone else will be there to help build a secure future and retirement for their daughter.
Kudos to Washington United for Marriage for a great ad that can even show this old dog a new way to look at this issue. If you have a moment, cruise by their website and drop a dime or two their way. The polls are looking good, but not far enough above 50% enough to guarantee the undecideds won't break against it.