A 15-year-old girl on Thursday pleaded
with New Jersey lawmakers to let her gay dads marry.
Michael and Jon Galluccio testified in
front of the New Jersey Assembly Committee considering a bill which
would make New Jersey the seventh state to legalize gay marriage.
Michael told lawmakers that he and Jon
have been together 30 years and are raising three children: Madison,
Adam and Rosa.
“On April 16, Jon and I will be
celebrating our 30th anniversary,” Michael testified.
“For 30 years I have loved, honored, respected, cherished in
sickness and in health. And I can guarantee to you, it will be until
death do us part.”
Madison testified that she was out to
win marriage equality for her dads.
“We are battling marriage equality
today, something I intend on winning. We're here because a lot of
people think my family is different. And you want to make us feel
different, don't you? Because I feel different, because you want us
to feel different. You give us a civil union. I don't know what
that is. … I don't understand and it's very hard for me to explain
to my friends.”
“New Jersey has made me feel
discriminated, like I'm some sort of outcast. But guess what New
Jersey, I'm no outcast. I'm Madison Galluccio and I'm part of the
Galluccio family. My parents will be married. And I'll make sure
that this happens 'til the day that I die.”
A tearful Madison added: “So please,
will you help me? Help me feel equal. We're no different. I'm no
different. And I shouldn't have to be forced to feel I'm different.
This is my family. And I want us to be able to have the same rights
as you. So New Jersey, please give me my freedom. Thank you.”