Parental Rights were given to me the day I concieved my child.  This whole BAN for minors is mind blowing to me.  State law requires my child to be 17 to drive, 18 to VOTE, 21 to drink, and now recently 21 to smoke. The last two are based on scientifice evidence of damaging the youth's brain. Knowing the dangers of driving, can't say that anyone argues that 17 is too restrictive.  Supposedly, after my child turns 18 and graduates from High School, the belief is he can make an informed decision, then VOTE.  I have 3 children who are not deemed adults (by the STATE or me) based on age alone.  My husband and I feed them, nurse them when they are ill, sit up with them to elay their fears after 2am nightmares, and drive them to school, sports, church, sleepovers,etc. All three of my children have busy schedules to encourage friendships, cognitive skills, gross motor skills, team building skills, including activities and discussions about Moral rights and wrongs (violence is wrong, PERIOD. Help the poor. etc), and a good work ethic. My childrens' diet is CLOSELY regulated.  My husband and I both wake up in the middle of the night to check on our sleeping children, or to discuss how to better help any of them with small/large problems.  There isn't anything  my husband and I wouldn't do for our children. Becoming parents has become our most important job. We CHOSE to be parents. We seek out fun FAMILY ACTIVITIES. We painstakingly selected where we wanted our children to be raised, educated, which church to attend, which sports would garner the best team building skills, etc.  It took 5 years of constant searching to find our current location in Northern VA. We wanted our children to have close ties with their grandparents, who grew up in the aftermath of the Great Depression, so as to allow the grandparents to teach them perspective, work ethic, proper manners such as respecting elders, and core family values. Grandparents can articulate these different struggles to our kids and also give much needed parental advice to both my husband and I.  In turn, we teach our children compassion by visiting their grandparents in assisted living, driving them to doctors appointments, shopping with their grandparents for much needed supplies at Walmart, picking them up for birthdays and holidays and for extended visits, etc.  Our children interact with other assisted living residents, and we have to explain to our children the complex situations that these other elderly citizens have: no loved ones to visit them, dementia, strokes cause drooling and paralysis, etc.  I bring sweet treats on some visits for my children or me to hand out to these lonely residents.   We chose northern VA to give our children access to their grandparents; to teach our kids the complexities of the dignity of human life with love, compassion, patience, respect, acts of kindness, etc.  And we are not the exception.  All of us with children go through these same struggles.

HOWEVER, there are things that I know I cannot teach my kids: like algebra, fractions, how to write a research paper, how to play any sport, etc. My expectations are very HIGH for my children. I want them to grow up to be good Christian citizens, have manners, be courteous, feel loved, be able to love others, have confidence in whatever profession they choose (my daughter wants to be a "mommy" and we tell her that is fantastic), to name a few. I need everybody to remember the reality is WE ARE HUMAN.  No one is immune to this reality.  I will make mistakes, my children will make mistakes.  We try to show our children that mistakes are learning experience and discuss the rational/logic behind the mistake or the decision that led to the mistake.  

MY POINT IS THIS: I cannot believe my eyes when I read some unelected officials, whom do not know me or my family, or all the families in the school system, feel compelled to inject theirselves into my childrens' upbringing. Just as I choose my childrens' activities, whereabouts, and well being etc with great care, who are these people that do not contribute to the well being of my family.

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics released a study that followed and monitored people before, during and after sex changes. Suicide rates are the absolute highest in these youths. Hmmm.  Doesn't sound like "helping" these children is really helping them after all. Most importantly, lookup The Trevor Project. The suicide rates in those experiencing same sex attraction is highest at the ages between 10-24. 

The current trend to condone this mentallity is already wreaking catastrophic havoc on these youths.  As can be seen by numerous studies on suicide rates in these specific individuals mentioned previously. No one in their right mind would teach a child how to shoot a gun, put the safety on, leave it on the table, then go out shopping. How is BAN any different? Sounds like a prescription for death, a liscense to kill. Look at the studies. 

Whether or not my child decides he/she is gay, is an ADULT decision.  To be made when he/she is an adult. When is a child an adult? State law says 18, or 21 when it comes to potential dangerous substances. Studies show that suicide is mind blowing high for youth experiencing same sex attraction and much worse for transgender individuals. 

Do not feed children this substance (BAN).  When they are adults, they can make adult decisions. 

Do not interfere with my family values.  You are not partaking in any of the pains/joys of raising my children.  I decide for my children. I don't ask them if they want to go to the doctor, take their medications, go to bed, or eat their vegetables.  If I left it up to my children, they would eat waffles at every meal, not brush their hair or teeth, watch unlimited TV/play video games and my youngest would be a cat. 

This is truly a STELLAR example of how logical thought processes seem to be devoid in people pushing such a bitter lie.   

Rachael B