Shame on Rep. Ives for Attacking Families

I read with disbelief that, Illinois State Rep. Jeanne Ives, a Wheaton
Republican, described same-sex marriage as "disordered" in a recent radio
interview. She went on in the interview to say that same-sex marriages are a
"completely disordered relationship" and accused LGBT people of trying to
"weasel their way" into acceptability.

As a parent who is in a same sex relationship that has lasted 13 years, I am
outraged. Our two children were in foster care in Illinois at a very early age.
They had been in 5 homes- all of whom Rep Ives would call "traditional families".
In each of these homes, they were told that it would be their "forever family".
Each family broke our children's hearts by turning them away. We became their
foster parents in 2007 and adopted them two years later in 2009. After years of
rebuilding their trust in adults, helping heal their emotional wounds, and
giving them a stable loving home, I am appalled that a law maker in our state
would attack our family and call us a "disorder". We are not trying to "weasel
our way in acceptability". We are just trying to give our children the best life
we possibly can. We send them to good schools; we give them all the love and
support they need;  and we work everyday to provide a good, safe home for them. Nothing more or less than any good parent would do.

Shame on Rep Ives for attacking families and their children just because
their parents desire to provide the safety net of marriage to their families.
Every family, regardless of how they were formed, deserves to be treated with
respect and dignity. Rep. Ives should be working to build up families, not tear
them down. Where is her compassion and heart on this issue? It is time for the
State of Illinois to stand on the side of love and pass marriage equality for
all families.