From: Kristyn Decker
To: Rep. McKell, M.,
Subject: Re: WE need your voices and your help!
Date: 2014-02-04T20:30:43Z
Body:
I apologize. I thought my automatic signature with all of my contact information was on the previous email asking for your help with polygamy issues. 

Please contact me @ 801-635-7556 or you can reply at this email address. 

Thank you very much. 

Kristyn Decker 


On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 10:15 AM, Kristyn Decker <soundchoicescoalition@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear State Representatives: 

Menlove, Lifferth, Draxler, Redd, Webb, Anderegg, Wilcox, Froerer, Peterson, Pitcher, Dee, Greenwood, Ray, Oda, Wilson, Handy, Barlow, Barrus, Nielson, Edwards, Sagers, Duckworth, Seelig, Chavez, Briscoe, Romero, Kennedy, King, Perry, Fisher, Wiley, Christensen, Hall, Anderson J, Wheatley, Arent, Moss, Hutchings, Dunnigan, Hemingway, McCay, Bird, Tanner, Cosgrove, Eliason, Poulson, Ivory, Stratton, Spendlove, Cunningham, Hughes, Knotwell, Brown, Powell, Mathis, Christofferson, Greene, Cox, Peterson V. Layton, Grover, Stanard, Sanpei, Lockhart, Gibson, McKell, Roberts, Nelson, McIff, Last, Westwood, Noel, Snow, and Ipson;  


I am a daughter of Owen Allred (now deceased) who was the former prophet and leader of the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) for 28 years. AUB is the same polygamist group to which Kody Brown belongs.

 

 I am also the founder and director of Sound Choices Coalition (SCC), a human rights organization with a particular interest in the wellbeing of children within polygamous societies.

 

SCC is concerned for the thousands of infants, children, teens, women and men of polygamy who have no real “choice” and whose voices are largely unheard. We are attempting to bring attention to the damaging effects of all polygamy. Knowing its many documented harms, we ask the state to keep it illegal and to take action against its abuses.

 

While a few media-savvy and relatively prosperous polygamist families proclaim that they are the “norm,” the reality is the other 99% of polygamists who live in poverty in a lifestyle that fosters a multitude of serious problems. Both personal testimonies and scholarly studies show that amongst the abuses of polygamy are financial and emotional deprivations for women and children, lack of equal rights for women, sexual abuse, early and underage unions, and the abandonment of young men who will never be able to find partners within their communities.

 

No religious practice that results in such ill effects should be a “right” under the US Constitution. Nevertheless, while bodies like the United Nations are working to eradicate polygamy worldwide, US officials such as Judge Waddoups, and now another Utah representative who are attempting to ease the way for these harms to flourish in the State of Utah.

 

In the past, we have so frequently felt powerless. We therefore sincerely and urgently request you to consider what we have to say, and to become a powerful voice for those too often unheard.

Without your voice, there will be no end to the victims who will continue to suffer as our elected officials stand silent.


Please allow us to meet with you to offer some innovative and humane suggestions for dealing with the polygamy problems in our state. This is an urgent matter for the future of its children.


Sincerely,


Kristyn Decker

Director of Sound Choices Coalition

 

Sound Choices Coalition www.sound-choices.com comprising:

Voices for Dignity www.voicesfordignity.com

Shield and Refuge www.shieldandrefuge.org

Polygamy.org www.polygamy.org

Stop Polygamy www.stoppolygamy.com

 

 (I've attached a copy of this letter.)


--

Religious coercion negates consent.

You may choose to look the other way,

but you can never say again that you did not know

William Wilberforce 

 




--

Religious coercion negates consent.

You may choose to look the other way,

but you can never say again that you did not know

William Wilberforce