the storm is coming?

Gay Californians can get married today. I must admit that the thought makes me somewhat nauseous.

Not because I'm anti-gay marriage. Partner and I have been together almost 13 years. Anyone that knows us knows about how many struggles we've been through simply because we couldn't get a marriage licence. Anyone that knows us knows we would marry in a heartbeat if we could.

Yet. I'm nauseous.

I look around and I see groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, the Promise Keepers, the Focus on the Family, Exodus International, and many others and I think "WOW!" all these groups lining up on the other side of the fence ready to attack me? [Really, US, but politics are personal.]

And I get nauseous.

I think I see what's coming. Court battle after court battle. Demonstration after demonstration, all over the news. Shouting, finger pointing, moralizing, much done in the name of God -- on both sides -- a sort of mini-crusade -- with plenty of casualties. The world will watch and think: "Didn't they learn anything the last time they denied people rights?" The shouts will ring out: "This is different! These aren't people! These are just fags! [yes Matthew, I still remember]. Burn them! Burn them! Crucify!

After many, many years in Washington D.C., I've been jaded to the point that all I see is the fight and know it's going to be a long one. How many paintings will there be of gay couples being turned away at church steps while holding marriage licenses? How many post-hoc amendments will crush gay families? There are more of them than there are of us. And, we don't exactly have friendly courts on our side. At least not yet.

Surely, that wouldn't happen in today's society? Got to go, my stomach hurts.

on winning a tony

Look Mr. Sondheim, I made a hat where there never was a hat, and it's a latin hat at that.

Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Accepting a Tony for Best Score (In the Heights), in a shout-out to Stephen Sondheim.

straight civil disobedience

The gay people are coming! The gay people are coming! To arms! To arms!

After the Supreme Court of California, with a majority of Reagan appointees I will add, decided that it was right and just for gays to get married, it seems that not all of California is ready for this to happen. Imagine my surprise. Kern County's Ann Barnett has decided that she will stop performing all wedding ceremonies just so she doesn't have to perform the gay ones.

Fantastic.

The lengths some people will go to, to deny human rights to others. History will judge you Ann Barnett. You will be remembered, and it wont be fondly. You will be that woman (no, not Lewinski) in California who tried to stop love, and failed. I hope your proud.

Follow the link for more information:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/07/america/NA-GEN-US-Gay-Marriage-Clerk.php

are Chris Matthews and Bill O'Reilly related?

Some people are starting to think that Chris Matthews is simply a conservative in liberal clothing.  What do you think?  Watch the video and think.  That's all I ask.

on choosing

I chose and my world was shaken,

So what?

The choice may have been mistaken

The choosing was not,

You have to move on.

Stephen Sondheim.  Sunday in the Park with George

vote Xanadu!

on friendship

If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood! But overcome space, and all we have left is Here. Overcome time, and all we have left is Now. And in the middle of Here and Now, don't you think that we might see each other once or twice?

Richard Bach. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

abominations - to name a few

Next time somebody tells you you're an abomination, let them know that in Leviticus there are a few more examples:

You have committed an abomination if you have:

Had sex with an animal (20:15-16)

Harvested your entire garden (19:9)

Consulted with a psychic or medium or had a tarot card reading (20:6)

If you're a man and have had sex without taking a shower and cleaning the sheets immediately after. (15:16)

Touched a woman while she was menstruating (19:19)

Had a juicy steak or hamburger (17:10)

Eaten pork (11:7)

Have a tattoo (19:26)

Stolen anything at anytime in your life (19:13)

Had a dog that produced a litter of mutts (19:19)

Worked on Saturday (19:3)

Eaten crab (11:10)

Talked back to your parents (19:3)

Said "I hate you" to a parent or sibling (19:17)

Unjustly judged your neighbor (19:15)

Kept something you found without trying to find the owner (6:3)

Eaten calamari (11:10)

Planted 2 different kinds of plants in the same pot/garden bed (20:19)

Worn a cotton/wool blend (20:19)

Trimmed your beard or the hair around your temples (19:27)

Gotten out of bed after either your parents or grandparents (19:32)

Not returned incorrect change (19:35)

Cheated on a test (19:35)

Eaten rabbit (11:6)

Eaten shrimp (11:10)

on death

Death is simply another way of being absent.