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Sam Thoron

An open letter from Sam and Julia Thoron:

November 7, 2008

Dear Friends,

We have suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of opponents who waged a campaign based on lies, deception and fear fueled by a deep and mistaken conviction that we, and our families, are inferior to theirs.  It hurts deeply.  It is cruel that our right to equal protection can be put to a vote.

We need to take time to heal.  We also need to remind ourselves of a few very important concepts.

In our fight, we have kept to the high road.  We have no need to examine our conscience. We have all given our utmost, freely and with unbelievable generosity and unity.  We can and must hold our heads high.

In our loss, in our grief, we must not allow our anger and frustration to divide us.  Let us not second guess or stoop to pointing fingers of blame among ourselves.  Remember that what we have in common is what brought us together.  However passionate we may be, we cannot allow small differences to divide us.

Finally, as we go on with our lives, we must not allow ourselves to become like our opponents.  Even if we can neither forget nor forgive them for the way that they have treated us, we must always treat those around us with the same respect and dignity that we deserve and demand for ourselves and for our families.  Let us continue to keep to the high road.

It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve the campaign to defeat Proposition 8.  It has been a gift beyond price.

In love and solidarity,

Sam and Julia Thoron

 

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Sam Thoron's rich history of dedication both to PFLAG and the GLBT community began in spring of 1990 when he became part of the steering committee for the San Francisco Chapter of the PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Sam and his wife Julia have been married for over 45 years and have lived in San Francisco since 1964. They raised their two sons and their daughter in the city. They are proud grandparents of five. Their eldest, Ben, lives in San Diego with his wife and three sons. The second, Joe, lives in Olga, Washington, with his wife, daughter and son. Liz, the youngest, with her partner, Lisa, is a homeowner in Oakland.

In September 1992 Sam was honored with an invitation to join the PFLAG National Board as Regional Director for the Mid-Pacific Region. This term of board service ended in 2001. In 2002 he was asked to rejoin the National Board of Directors as National President. He served in this capacity through October 2006 and continues to serve on the National Board.

A retired general commercial insurance broker, Sam is a member of the Equality for All Statewide Campaign Committee, which was established to counter attempts to imbed anti-gay discrimination into the California State Constitution. He serves on Board of Directors of Marriage Equality USA.

Julia and Sam continue to build on their proud history of advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality, working with their deep commitment to justice and fair play for all citizens to realize the vision of PFLAG.