A red-headed sixth-grader stole the
show at a rally in support of gay marriage in Salt Lake City on
Friday.
“Some people do not believe that I am
from a loving family, because my moms are gay,” Riley
Hackford-Peer, 12, told a crowd estimated at over 1,000, as his
younger brother Casey stood by his side. “They are wrong. I love
my moms, and my moms love me and my brother unconditionally.”
The rally to ask Utah Governor Gary
Herbert to drop an appeal in a case that struck down Utah's ban on
gay marriage took place at the state's capitol rotunda.
(Related: At
Utah gay marriage rally, hundreds ask Gov. Gary Herbert to drop
appeal.)
Casey also spoke volumes as he proudly
held up a sign with of photo of his moms' wedding day captioned with
“Standing Strong; Say Love” surrounded by red hearts.
Riley said that he had asked his moms
Ruth and Kim to marry in Iowa. He said that his moms explained that
Utah does not recognize the out-of-state marriages of gay couples.
Then came the judge's ruling.
“On December 20, it happened. I saw
my moms get married in Utah. It felt like fireworks bursting in my
heart,” Riley
said to loud cheers.
“But Governor Herbert wants to treat
my moms unfairly. He says he wants to 'protect families.' But I
want to tell him that my family deserves protection too! I have two
moms. And I love them. And they deserve to have their marriage
recognized everywhere.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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