LGBTQ Boy's Note to Santa Prompts Flood of Christmas Love
A letter to Santa that reached the United States Post Office's century-old "Operation Santa" program melted hearts worldwide when it was shared online. But there's more to the story.
As reported prevously at EDGE, the child's handwritten note asked Santa, "Do you supprot [sic] the lgbtQ community [sic] and if you can speak to god can you tell Him I love Him, and if He loves me for being gay."
The letter was signed "Will," and while nothing more is known about the young author of the heart-tugging missive, media outlets are reporting on the program volunteer who got Will's letter and responded.
Michael Mu�oz was that volunteer, reports Upworthy.com. Being LGBTQ himself, Mu�oz knew how important it was make sure the boy's plaintive question was answered with a resounding affirmation, so he marshaled some Christmas helpers to send the boy a dose of Christmas cheer.
"The boy didn't ask for anything! NOTHING!" Mu�oz told Upworthy. "What kid doesn't ask for toys galore?!?! All he wanted is to know was that he was loved. I was hellbent on making that happen."
When Mu�oz turned to his friends for help, they expressed concerns, he said, fearing for the boy's safety in case he might be living in a non-supportive family situation.
Though the question "weighed on me a lot," Mu�oz said, his final answer came down to this: "Whoever or whatever situation is on the other side of that letter is out of our control but you best believe he got the biggest gayest glitter unicorn rainbow-filled box that would make any LGBTQ person young or old say 'This is fabulous!' "
Mu�oz and his helpers sent the boy a box of books for younger readers, including, he said, titles like "Juli�n Is a Mermaid" by Jessica Love, "You're Different and That's Super" by Carson Kressley, "Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag" Rob Sanders and Steven Salerno, and other titles.
"We sent him everything we could find and I mean everything," Mu�oz said. "Down to filling the boxes with rainbow mylar glitter!"
The longtime Operation Santa volunteer also enclosed a note from Santa, which he had written himself. "The boy's was specifically geared toward the fact that he is loved and that being different is beautiful and powerful," Mu�oz said. "I also sent his parents a letter from Santa wishing them well and offering resources if they needed them.
"That came along with a wrapped book titled 'Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child,' " he added.
The letter and Mu�oz's response were detailed in the new documentary "Dear Santa" by filmmaker Dana Nachman, Upworthy pointed out.
"Traveling the country, much like Santa does on Christmas Eve, the film focuses on select Operation Santa centers: some in metropolitan areas like the massive operation in New York City and others in small towns where the post office is the heart of the community," Upworthy quoted a press release for the film as saying.