Friend,

My son is Benjamin and he is a 10-year-old transgender boy growing up in Houston. Together, we worked in our local community to protect the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). As a family we publicly shared Benjamin’s story and the impact it had on all of us. We were sure that sharing our hopes and dreams for our son would change the hearts and minds of voters. Sadly, our heartwarming story could not stand up to the misleading and misinformed messages on TV.

The Elder Family

The city we call home, and our neighbors, voted to deny my son and other transgender kids the right to feel safe and protected. The loss of HERO was hard on our family. Our hearts are still aching from the loss.

Luckily, as a mother I started to think of all of the wonderful people we met this year. When I sat down to talk to my son Benjamin about HERO’s loss, we talked about all of the people he now knows who love and support him. Because of people like you, the ones who support the work of Equality Texas, our family will not stop until Benjamin and all LGBT children are safe and equal. I rest at night knowing you all are fighting with us.

Every single generous donation you make to Equality Texas, no matter how big or how small, is a personal expression of love for my son.

We recently shared our story with the Houston Chronicle.

No one in Houston or any other city in Texas should have to live in fear of discrimination. That means we will have to continue sharing stories of the lives impacted when these protections aren’t on the books.

When we, as adults, think back to our school days – we all remember that LGBT kid, the one who didn’t fit in, the one who would keep their chin up after hearing an offensive joke, the one who was always bullied. Did you go to school with that kid? Were you that kid? You, your parents or your friends might not have known where to turn to back then, but now you do.

Today, you can turn to Equality Texas. A civil rights organization working exclusively in Texas to achieve LGBT equality. They work hard every single day to ensure not only children like Benjamin will be free from discrimination, but that ALL Texans receive those same freedoms.

One day my son and other LGBT Texans will be free from discrimination, largely due to the work Equality Texas tirelessly puts in every day. Your support is critical in making sure that work continues.

Yes, there is an enormous amount of work to do. But with your help, we can build a brighter future for everyone.

Thank you for supporting my family by supporting the work of Equality Texas.

P.S. You know, we are stronger together and make real progress on behalf of LGBT people. Please give as generously as you can so people can have help, hope and can take action during tough times.