By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A 10-YEAR-OLD Berwick boy has written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, asking why his two mums can’t be married.
Jaden’s query as to why his mums – Janaha and Emily – couldn’t be wed in Australia, went viral across the internet and throughout the media.
Mum Emily, a high school English teacher, was more surprised at how quickly the letter had gained momentum, rather than the topic Jaden had chosen to write about.
“I wasn’t shocked – maybe because I am a teacher I don’t underestimate kids and what they can do,” she said this week.
“I especially know comments online since then have been that kids can’t think up their own thoughts like that, but I definitely know what kids are capable of.
“He asked me to share it. He wanted everyone to read this. So I shared it on Facebook and then I sent it to SameSame and that was it.”
While Emily never got a chance to proof-read Jaden’s letter before it was posted on SameSame.com.au, her son’s message is clear.
“But if they did get married, how would it hurt you?” Jaden wrote.
“I mean like you wouldn’t even see them, and dude your sister is a lesbian! And if you can accept that I’m sure you can let gay and lesbians get married!”
Jaden showed the letter to his mums before Emily posted it on her Facebook and SameSame.com.au, in addition to sending a written version to Mr Abbott.
Jaden finishes the piece by thanking Mr Abbott in advance for hearing him out, but is yet to receive a response.
“Thankyou for listening and if you let my parents get married then my life and there life would be so much easyer,” Jaden wrote.
“Because people always listen to the prime minister of Australia!”
Jaden said his inspiration for the letter came from seeing heterosexual couples who he presumed to be married, a reminder of the union that remained out of reach in Australia for his mothers.
“In the car we were driving and I saw these people having fun and they were married,” Jaden said this week.
“There was a boy and girl and they were kissing and they had kids.
“I wanted my parents to have fun just like that and be married as well. I just want them to be like the other people.”
Janaha, Jaden’s biological mother, met Emily more than three years ago and moved with Jaden to Berwick where they began a new chapter in their lives.
And while Jaden’s letter has garnered the family widespread publicity, Janaha and Emily’s inability to get married in Australia brings an uncertainty that the three of them face regularly.
“Especially when it comes to Jaden, that side of things. He was really worried about things, if anything happened to me in this time we’re together – where would he go?” Janaha said.
“It’s not about the certificate; it’s about family rights for us as a family. That’s our biggest concern.”
