Hi Senator Haugen,

Thank you for working hard and securing a position as a Washington State Senator! You're an inspiration to women everywhere, including the mid-20 somethings like myself who are struggling to establish their career and round out their education. You're a reminder that anything can be accomplished as long as you persevere.

That being said, I am emailing you to request that you help the fight for marriage equality persevere. My parents have been divorced since I was a young child, when my father came out as a homosexual. My mother is happily remarried and remains friendly with my father, and they co-parented wonderfully. When I talk to other people about my family, I refer to my mother, father, step-father, and my dad's "boyfriend", or partner of 15 years.

It would have been wonderful if my dad and his partner had been able to get married too. My mother's remarriage provided me with a lot of structure, as well as 3 new step-siblings and an adopted brother. If my father would have been able to get remarried too it would have been extremely helpful for me as a child and as a young adult. I would have had a "step-father", I would have had the promise that their relationship would be protected if either one of them got sick, and I would have had something socially acceptable to tell my friends and teachers when I listed my dad's partner on my school forms.

I love my family, and I love the way my parents have raised me to treat other people. I hope that hearing a brief personal story about my experience will help encourage you to vote YES on the marriage-equality bill.

Brittany

Contact info for all the remaining undecided senators is right here. And advice on what tone take is right here. Only one more vote is needed to get this marriage equality bill passed.