WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the editor are great advocacy tools. They allow you to reach a large audience, shed light on information perhaps not addressed in an article, shift support for an issue, and make an impression on a representative who reads the publication.
Quick Pointers:
- Letters to the editor should be no more than 150 words.
- Please keep the letters as short and to the point as possible.
- Target the letter with only one issue. There is not enough space to write about multiple issues. When finished writing the letter, be sure to sign it with your name and town of residence.
Stylistic considerations:
- State the argument you're rebutting or responding to as briefly as possible in the letter's introduction.
- Your letter should be logically organized. State why you are writing your letter first, then back up your beliefs with personal examples and facts.
- Don't be shrill or abusive. Editors tend to discard letters containing personal attacks.
- Use facts and numbers when possible and make sure those are correct.
- Always use personal examples when possible. This gives the reader a better reason why they should listen to your veiwpoint. "As a mother of an LGBTQ child..." will resonate with the reader and have them sympathize with your veiw. It will also give more credance to your credibility.
Background of Conscience Clause Bill:
House Bill 189 and Senate Bill 349, “Child-placing agency; conscience clause” will allow all agencies licensed to make foster care or adoption placement decisions in the state of Virginia to do so in accordance with their own religious or moral beliefs. The state would be prohibited from denying or revoking a license based on the failure to comply with rules if the agency cites a religious or moral objection to the rules.
Lesbian and gay individuals could be among the potential foster parents or adoptive parents for whom placements would be refused under this legislation.
- This state-funded discrimination will compound the difficulties in finding loving, permanent homes for the thousands of Virginia children in foster care and awaiting adoption — difficulties that already have resulted in more children in Virginia aging out of foster care than in all but one other state.
- This legislation will endanger the lives and mental health of GLBT children who will not be protected from being placed in homes in which they could be subjected to “treatments” or “therapies” to change their sexual orientation because of the religious or moral beliefs of the placement agency.
- This is NOT a religious freedom issue. Offering adoption and foster care services to the public is a secular not a religious activity. Children in foster care are the state's children while they are in the system.