PRIDE

I am a proud mama. My daughters are all wonderful and amazing human beings - and all very different from one another. I know I have said this before, so excuse me for repeating myself. I don't usually single them out, but today I want to tell you about my oldest daughter, jb.

We named her Jennifer when she was born and then called her Jenny. When she was in high school, she changed the spelling of her name to “Jennie.” We started calling her “Jenn” when she went to college because it seemed more grown up. When she became the deputy executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition in Washington DC, she had “jb beeson” printed on her business cards – just like that – all in lower case letters. As a person, she has grown and evolved more than her name has changed.

jb is special…unique…a force of nature.

She never ceases to amaze me and I am proud of her for so many reasons. When I try to list all the things that make her special, I sound liked a biased mother - which, of course, I am. I tell people that she is a mover and a shaker – jb knows how to get things done. She is intelligent and savvy, tough but compassionate, kind but honest. I marvel at her fearlessness. She is my daughter, my friend and my teacher. Along the way, she has taught me many important lessons; she has given us great joy, a few tears and a few gray hairs! I think her sisters would say that she is over-protective of them, yet loving and supportive, lots of fun and yes, sometimes a pain in the butt. I know they are proud of her as well.

Yesterday, the state of New York voted to give her the right to marry her partner. She can now legally get married in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia.

She should have that right here in California or any of the other 43 states that do not allow same sex marriage. I defy anyone who would argue that point with me. I fiercely support jb's rights as a member of the LGBTQ community, but more importantly, as a member of the human race. When she is ready to get married, I hope with all my heart, that she can legally do it here. New York got it right, and hopefully, other states won't be too far behind.

So, I want to say "Happy Gay Pride Weekend" to my Jennifer-Jenny-Jennie-Jenn-jb, my other gay family members and friends. Your day is here!

I love you, Moon-Pie!