Editor:

I am writing you today to express my feelings and explain the Common Ground Initiative bills that are being voted on in the next few weeks. Many Utahns believe that these bills have much to do with gay marriage, but they are very mistaken. The CGI is a group of bills to protect the LGBT community and its associates. Right now in the state of Utah, individuals can get fired or kicked out of their homes for being gay or transgender. This is not fair and does not represent what freedom is and what America stands for. These bills also would give hospital visitation rights to homosexual couples in the state of Utah. These bills are very important to me and my family and I would ask anyone who is debating or against the CGI to look into it more and put yourself into the situation of not having the protections of one of these bills. Again these bills have nothing to do with marriage8212;they only make another minority equal.

Ryan Ford
Farmington