Home-schooled girl to lawmakers: Vote down same sex marriage for my birthday

A 14-year-old girl named "Sarah" asked lawmakers in Maryland on Tuesday to vote against marriage equality for her birthday.

Testifying before Maryland's Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Sarah said it "would be the best birthday present ever if you would vote no on gay marriage."

"I really feel bad for the kids who have two parents of the same gender," the girl explained. "Even though some kids feel like it's fine, they have no idea of what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on. I don't want any more kids to get confused about what's right and OK."

"People have the choice to be gay, but I don’t want to be affected by their choice," Sarah continued. "People say they were just born that way, but I’ve met really nice adults who did change."

"So, please vote no on gay marriage."

The New Civil Rights Movement's David Badash pointed to Sarah's home schooling as possible source of her opposition to equal rights for gay men and lesbians.

"This is the kind of ludicrous stupidity that comes when children are home schooled," he wrote. "[B]y and large, home schooled kids are subject to an education of their parents’ making and that means they can be brainwashed like this 14-year-old."

"While we’re at it, how is it even possible that this 14-year old was allowed to testify? Who arranged this? What value does her testimony have, since she wasn’t raised by a same-sex couple?" Bash added. "Perhaps they’ll have a 13-year-old weigh in on the healthcare debate next?"

The Maryland Senate is expected to eventually approve the marriage equality bill. But things do not look as hopeful in the House of Delegates, where lawmakers rejected a similar bill last year.

Listen to this audio from Maryland's Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, recorded Jan. 31, 2012.

(H/T: Think Progress)