And New York makes six

I'm still holding out for a California wedding, but it's nice to have another option. To the New York legislature, thank you, honestly I didn't think you had it in you.

And to Maggie Gallagher, Brian Brown, The National Organization for Marriage, The Catholic League, and your supporters I will say this: Please stop. You are on the wrong side of history, and everyone sees it but you. Your fearmongering falls on increasingly deaf ears, and one day gay men and women will marry everywhere. Our families, though vastly different from yours, will be protected as yours are now. And you cannot stop it. Civilization will not crumble, and the institution of marriage will not be damaged as you insist it will, but strengthened through inclusion.

This isn't about you. It is, ultimately and singularly, about love.

Who loves California? I do!

Here we go

"Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians." - Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker

Proposition 8 has been overturned in California. The entire ruling is available online, and while I plan to read it, I thought the above quote summed it up nicely. The appeals process has already begun and I expect the entire battle will just get uglier and uglier. But at least for today, we have something to celebrate.

This week in California

In case you haven't seen the news, and I haven't noticed a mention anywhere outside of a couple of the gay news blogs I read, the Proposition 8 challenge began today in San Francisco District Court.


You might remember that I have definite opinions on the issue of same-sex marriage, but I think the photo above best illustrates my point. The moment Mr. Speedo rolled out on the Conveyor Belt of Love, he and Bitchy Asian Chick were eligble to run down to the courthouse and tie the knot. After 12 years together Brett and I are not. Sanctity of marriage my ass.


I'm not angry, nor am I sad. Truthfully I'm not even hopeful. I'm just tired of the argument and the rhetoric and the politicization of something so intimate and personal.


Brett and I will do what we must to ensure our wishes and security are safeguarded, whatever the ruling may ultimately be. The fight won't end in San Francisco, and it won't end anytime soon. I've simply lost the ability to care any longer.

Protest Virgin No More

I'd never protested anything before today, but Kansas City joined cities across the country in protesting California's recent passage of Proposition 8, which removed our newly-minted right to marry in the Golden State. Held on the edge of the Country Club Plaza, we got there early and headed over to Restoration Hardware to buy new drapery hardware for our bedroom. So gay! But they were having 20% off the entire store, and our current curtain rod sucks. Here's some recap photos in no particular order:

Before and after the speakers (who we couldn't really hear because their PA system was small) everyone lined up along 47th street and cheered the cars that honked as they passed. The event organizers said that we needed to keep the sidewalks clear and people gladly complied.

When we got there the crowd was just assembling, and as always, some of Fred Phelps' family were across the street with their fag signs. Not sure why, but they didn't stay much past the start of the rally. They'll never realize how much their brand of crazy has helped our cause. Just think if they'd focused all these years on something positive, who knows what they might have accomplished.

After the speakers finished we went back to the street, and the crowd was big enough at that point that some crossed to line the other side. So much honking and waving. Only one thumbs-down that I saw from the female passenger half of an old couple in a big F-350.

The crowd assembling by the JC Nichols fountain (which is my favorite in a city full of fountains).

One of the speakers, I'm afraid I don't know who he is. Obviously I need to get out more or something.

My favorite sign of the day, because sometimes, even the most noble of causes benefits from a sense of humor.

My other favorite sign.

So there you go, a great day for a great cause, in spite of the cold. Way to go Kansas City, I'm totally proud of all of us!