Sample Family Photo Letters
Sample Letter and Photo 1 - Sarah, Felicity and family
To Mr Nazih Elasmar OAM
Member of the Legislative Council for the Northern Metropolitan Electorate
Dear Mr Elasmar
I am writing because legislation is due in Parliament soon that would grant equality to children of same-sex parented families.
These laws will affect my children’s lives in many ways, and I want to introduce them and their extended family to you. Please find attached a photo of my partner Felicity, me, and our now two-year-old twins, Callum and Rafael, on holidays last summer - the boys' first fish and chips!
Felicity and I have been together for eight years. I birthed Callum and Rafael, and Felicity is about to give birth to our third child. We chose a known donor, a dear friend, to help us have our family. He and his parents and family see the children regularly.
All of our families adore Callum and Rafi, and are excitedly awaiting number three. Our children have six grandparents, six aunties, three uncles and many close family friends who love and support them, and us as their parents.
I would be happy to meet to explain more about how these reforms will affect my family, and how important your support will be. Please contact me on...
thank you
Sarah
Sample Letter and Photo 2 - Jacqueline, Sarah and family
Jacqueline.
Sample Letter and Photo 3 - Spencer's Family
Dear Mr/Ms XXXXX
My name is Spencer and I am five months old. My mummies are helping me to write this letter because there is some legislation that you have to vote on soon that impacts our family greatly. It is legislation to do with same sex parented families, access to assisted reproductive technology, adoption and surrogacy. This legislation will decide whether my family should be called a family and whether both of my mummies should be recognized by the law as my parents.
I don't really know what legislation is and I don't know much about the law - (hey, I'm only five months old) - but I do know about my family.
I have two mummies who love me alot and look after me. One of my mummies is a Firefighter - I want to be just like her when I grow up. My other mummy works on the computer part time from home so she can look after me. We live in a nice house where I have my own bedroom, a nice backyard and lots of toys. My favourite toy is called Ziggy, he's blue and orange and he squeaks and makes me smile and laugh!
Both my mums have been there for me since I was just a little dot on the ultrasound screen. Everyone at the doctor's clinic knew I had two mums. When I was born the doctor took me from my mummy's tummy and both my mummies were there and everyone in the hospital knew I had two mums. Now that I'm here in the world both my mums change my nappies and give me a bottle and pick me up for a hug when I cry. We go to mother's group every Tuesday and basketball on a Wednesday morning and everyone there knows I have two mums. We even go to Rainbow Playgroup every month where all the kids have two mums - and some have two dads!!
I don't really know why the law doesn't understand that I have two mums - everyone else does and they don't seem to mind!
As well as my two mums, in my family I have four aunties and four uncles and eight cousins and three grandmas and two grandpas!! Boy, that's a lot of people that love me!! It's a bit long-winded for me to explain who's who and how everyone is related - but that's families for you isn't it? - they come in all shapes and sizes!
Anyway, I hope that you can think about us when you have your vote on the legislation and vote in favour of it. My mummies are very concerned that they don't both have a recognized legal relationship with me and I reckon that I deserve to have my two parents recognized as my parents, this makes me feel safe and secure. It would mean alot to all of us that the legal position of our family reflects reality.
I've attached a picture of us for you so you can see what we look like. We are just a family, like any other! If you want to ask us any questions about our family, we'd be happy to come and see you or to chat on the phone, just so you can understand how important it is to us all that we have the same rights as everyone else. My mummy Karen's mobile number is XXXXXXXXXX.
I better go now, mum says I need to go and have a nap.
Thank you for reading about my family!
From Spencer
P.S. I've attached a picture of me and Ziggy too!
