Authors note: The article I am responding to was published in November of 2015. While I understand that this is an older article, I had only recently seen the article and had to create a response. This response is not intended to be offensive.

Dear Author of An Open Letter To Democrats, From A Millennial Republican,

I understand what you're saying.

I understand that I don't know you. I understand that not all republicans are bigots. I understand that not all republicans don't believe in marriage equality, racial equality, and women's rights. I understand that most of you don't feel this way— and I respect that.

However, here's where I'd like to disagree with you:

Speaking as a Democrat, I can directly say that you're not the only one being stereotyped. A large part of this political debate is that I can't understand your viewpoint and you can't understand mine. From my viewpoint, it's difficult to understand Republicans because I never hear the other side— as in, I don't seem to see any other viewpoints other than those who agree with the radical Republican viewpoints. But I'd like too. I'd like to understand what you agree and disagree with. I'd like to understand the things that may be true for your political party, but not true for you. But that's difficult when I never hear about this side of Republicans, the more liberal side of Republicans.

But you're not alone. Democrats, just like Republicans, are stereotyped.

"You're a Democrat?" people will ask, making it sound as if you're a communist (which we're not).

Sure, not all Republicans will feel this way about Democrats, but it feels like it.

Yes, I believe in marriage equality, racial equality, and women's rights. Yes, I believe that Planned Parenthood should be funded. I believe in birth control and the women's right to choose. I believe in many of the same things that you do.

But here's where we differ:

I'd like women to have the right to choose to do whatever they want to do with their bodies because it's their body, not yours. I believe that transgender people are people and they deserve the same rights that you and I have. I believe in marriage equality for everyone. I don't believe in privatization. I believe in charter schools. I don't believe in the right to keep and bear arms, because when there are 30,000 deaths from firearms a year, when homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds, and the first leading cause of death in African Americans of that age group, then we have a gun crisis, not a people crisis.

Just like Republicans "get flack" for the things they believe in, so do Democrats. And I agree with you—it's okay to disagree on political beliefs and it's not right to make snap judgements.

So I ask you to do the same that you've asked of me. Please, please, please reexamine how you view Democrats. I'm sure, just as Democrats are missing pieces of the Republican viewpoint, that you're missing pieces of ours. And despite what everyone believes, we aren't our stereotype either.

Sincerely,

A millenial Democrat