President Barack Obama has a 10-year old pen-pal. San Diegan Sophia Bailey-Klugh wrote the President to express her gratitude for his evolved position on same sex marriage. One of her same-sex parents, Jonathan Bailey, posted her letter and the response letter signed by President Obama on his Facebook page. In it, the little activist writes, “…I just wanted to tell you that I am so glad you agree that two men can love each other because I have two dads and they love each other.” Obama’s 10-year old pen pal then went on to detail how some of the kids at school think the relationship between her two dad’s is “gross and weird.” Bailey-Klugh asked the President what she should do to address the kids at school who tease her.
Initially, Obama’s 10-year old pen pal invited him to dinner at her family’s home. Of course, he couldn’t make it. That’s when she followed up with what her dad called an “unprompted letter” to the President thanking him for his support of families like hers. While the little girl might not have expected a reply, President Obama did reach out to her in a heartfelt personal letter. In it, he answered her question about what to do regarding her teasing classmates, saying: “Treat others the way you hope they will treat you.” He even let her know that he would tell his daughters Sasha and Malia that she said hello, stating: “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to dinner, but I’ll be sure to tell Sasha and Malia you say hello.”
While some think the timing of the gesture was curious as the correspondence was dated for November 1st, just days before the election; others saw it as a nice gesture for the President to reach out to the 10-year old pen pal with two dads. President Obama’s position on same-sex marriage has evolved earlier this year. After North Carolina voters approved a same-sex marriage ban in their state constitution in May of this year, the newly re-elected President spoke out on his newfound position regarding same-sex marriage. In his new view of same-sex marriage, Obama believes that same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry.
Regardless of which side of the political fence you sit, it’s nice that the President took the time to acknowledge a girl who is proud of her family but facing some obstacles from the outside world. Having and overcoming obstacles is something that Obama is all too familiar with so who better for a 10-year old to ask than him?
