Since I was a young boy, I knew I had one important mission in life -- to be a father. Parenthood did not seem possible, or easy, for gay people ... until yesterday.
A federal judge ruled that Mississippi's ban on same-sex couples adopting children is unconstitutional, making gay adoption legal in all 50 states.
I was thrilled to hear this news because I know the facts: Each year, more than 20,000 children age out of the foster care without being adopted. Today, there are more than 108,000 children in foster care waiting to be adopted.
In my excitement, I shared the news on my Facebook and immediately received a negative comment. This young man said, in Latin, "Not for the Greater Glory of God."
Although his comment was beyond ignorant, it reminded me of the continuous battle the LGBT community is facing in our country. Religious extremists, or Bible Pushers, are trying to stop progress. News flash people: NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE OR SHARES THE SAME RELIGION.
Given that there are THOUSANDS of children who need to be adopted in the U.S. alone each year, these Bible Pushers would rather abandon these children than let a loving, same-sex couple adopt them. Where is the logic in that?
To all the religious extremists and close-minded people out there, please ask yourself the following questions:
Do you truly believe that children raised by same-sex parents are going to turn out evil?
Be less intelligent?
Be less faithful?
Be less religious?
Be less successful?
If you said yes to any of those questions above, you're totes right.
God would not approve of loving parents adopting children. He is afraid that gay parents will turn their kids gays also (it's contagious, you know). And, the children would be all confused. How will a boy know he's a boy? How will a girl know she's a girl? What restroom will these children use? Argh. These are the questions we definitely do not want free-thinking people to ask themselves. I think we should just leave them in an orphanage or foster care system.
My name is Aaron Jay Ledesma.
I'm from Houston, Texas.
I'm Catholic.
I'm gay.
I'm me.