Some little girls wonder if there’s a Santa Claus, but 11-year-old Cameron Myers Milne of North Carolina wanted to know if there’d be justice for her two moms. So she wrote a letter to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to rule in favor of marriage equality when the issue comes before them later this month.
Amazingly, she got a response.
Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor sent Cameron a letter and signed portrait after the 6th-grader wrote sent all nine justices family photos and a three-paragraph plea to strike down DOMA. “Please look at our photos and think of us when you make decisions based on gay rights,” wrote the 6th grader. “We are a family. I am very proud of my parents and I hope you understand how your decision will affect my family.”
Her moms, Sheila Milne and Susan Myers, swear they didn’t put Cameron up to it—though they’re pleased as punch at her activism: “I’m not going to stop her if she wants to say something about her family,” Myers told the Wilson Times. “I’m not going to push it, but we’re definitely not going to stop her.”
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Cameron says she was inspired to speak up after watching President Obama’s second inauguration and seeing all nine justices. “I saw them during the inauguration and I thought, ‘What if they decide against gay marriage?’” she explains. “I thought I would rather not let that happen without me knowing that I tried to affect their decision.”
Because the Court will be addressing marriage equality, Sotomayor explained she couldn’t discuss her opinion on the issue. But she sent an autographed portrait and a note telling Cameron to follow her passion.
“I know dreams can come true when you work hard to achieve them,” the court’s third female justice wrote. “I wish you the joy of dreaming big, working hard and succeeding in all that you do.”
In addition to the note from Sotomayor, Cameron’s letter also nabbed her family another honor: Invites to the White House Easter egg roll on April 1.
Below is the text of Cameron’s letter:
Hello,
My name is Cameron. I am eleven years old and I am currently in the 6th grade [in North Carolina]. I am the daughter of Susan and Sheila. I watched President Obama’s inauguration speech today and my parents pointed you out to me. They informed me that although President Obama is leading the fight for my parents to be treated equally, you and the other justices will be making very important decisions in the next few months. I know you are busy, but I hope you have time to read this letter.
My parents have been together for 26 years. They took me to New York on their 25th anniversary so that they could be legally married. I was so happy for them. They are the best parents a kid could ask for and I love them so much. I would like to see their marriage recognized here in our home state. Please look at our photos and think of us when you make decisions based on gay rights. We are a family. I am very proud of my parents and I hope you understand how your decision will affect my family.
If you have any concerns about the welfare of kids of gay parents, I can tell you that I am doing great. I am so loved. Everyone I know tells me I am such a lucky kid. My parents are my life. They quiz me before tests and make sure that I am doing well in school. I was the top student in my class last year and have made Headmaster’s List every 6 weeks. I play travel soccer and I am currently trying out for the Olympic Development Program which means they dedicate most of their weekends to traveling all over the state so that I can compete against other teams. I also play tennis. A couple of years ago I collected 200 soccer balls and sent them to Liberia for kids who do not have soccer balls. I have many good friends who love my parents. I have never been teased. I think things are going very well. Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,
Cameron
And Justice Sotomayor’s response:
Photos: Campaign for Southern Equality
Spike
Update: Scalia tweets picture of himself laughing while dropping the letter from an 11 year old girl and a picture of her and her two lesbian Mom’s into a paper shredder.
mikro
I pray that this appeal from a wonderful child melts even the frosty,frozen heart of Justice Scalia.
jwrappaport
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/scalia-gesture.jpg
erikwm
Here’s to hoping this little girl’s dream comes true one morning in June.
plaintom
@mikro: You may be asking to much, there is no evidence Scalia has a heart.