I am quite vocal about my support for LGBTQ+ rights, and when I share my views, I often encounter the same question: “Why do you care so much? You’re a married heterosexual woman. What does this issue have to do with you?” My standard reply is that I believe in equality for all, including my LGBTQ+ friends. While that’s true, my deeper feelings reveal a more personal motivation.
Because my daughters might one day be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Take Lily, for instance—she’s obsessed with dinosaurs! And then there’s Mia, who can’t get enough of cars. In this household, dolls and princesses take a backseat to trains and building blocks. I recognize that I’m leaning into stereotypes, but ultimately, I have no idea who they will love when they grow up. This aspect of their identities is entirely beyond my control, and I’m comfortable with that.
What troubles me is the thought that my daughters might face discrimination based solely on who they choose to love. This is unacceptable. This is why I care so passionately about LGBTQ+ rights.
If my daughters decide to serve their country, they should have that opportunity, without having to suppress their true selves. As a mother, I would be concerned for their safety, but if they express a strong desire to pursue this path, how could I tell them, “Sorry, but to do that, you’ll have to deny who you are”? I want to instill in them the belief that they are perfect just the way they are, quirks and all.
If one of my daughters chooses to marry a woman, I would want to celebrate that love with the grandest wedding imaginable, and I want it to be legally recognized in all fifty states. If I’m going to put in that much effort planning, I expect my daughter to be able to proudly announce, “This is my wife!” and to enjoy a happily ever after that is legitimate. That’s a fundamental right that every married couple should share.
Should my daughter and her partner decide to adopt, I will fiercely defend their right to do so. It baffles me that adoptions can be denied in this country based on a family’s non-traditional structure. What even constitutes a “traditional” family today? Every family is unique, whether heterosexual or otherwise. The only factor that should determine a family’s eligibility for adoption is their capacity to love. I have future grandchildren to spoil, and I won’t let outdated views stand in my way.
Am I being selfish? Perhaps. My advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights is deeply intertwined with my desire for my daughters’ happiness. They might grow up to marry men just to challenge me, but who knows? What if one of my future grandchildren identifies as gay?
LGBTQ+ rights have implications for us all. It may not seem pressing today, but at some point, it could become a significant issue for you and your family.
As a heterosexual woman, I care deeply about LGBTQ+ rights because, in the end, you just never know.
(And honestly, supporting these rights is the right thing to do, regardless of one’s motivations, be they self-serving or altruistic.)
If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, be sure to check out this blog post. For those seeking guidance on pregnancy and donor insemination, this resource is excellent. Additionally, I penned a blog about endometriosis and PCOS that may provide further insight on related health issues.
In summary, my advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights stems from a desire for a world where all families can thrive, regardless of their structure, and where my daughters can love freely without fear of discrimination.