My Feminist Valentine

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Dear Edward,

You are my valentine, my funny valentine, my feminist valentine.

I don't know if you've ever called yourself a feminist, but we both know that you are.

You're a feminist because you believe in the radical notion that women are people. You're a feminist because you believe in me. You believe my goals are just as important as yours. You dare me to dream big and you support me in everything I do.

You're a feminist because you're man enough to do the laundry and you don't consider doing the dishes doing me a favor.

You're a feminist because you're a man of God who believes the Bible teaches that marriage should be about mutual submission.

When we married nearly eight years ago, the feminist in me struggled with the idea of changing my last name to yours. This time-honored tradition just didn't seem fair. And you agreed. And you reminded me that changing my name or not was my choice and my choice alone.

I chose to take your name just as my heart and my soul chose you.

And I choose you still -- today, tomorrow, always.