Love is Love...

Today, I'm sure, was a bittersweet day for gay and lesbian couples across the nation. In New Haven, Connecticut, Barbara Levine-Ritterman proudly held aloft the first same-sex marriage license issued in that state. For the first time, same-sex couples stood in the same line as heterosexual couples to await getting their marriage licenses.

According to the Associated Press, "The health department had new marriage applications printed that reflect the change. Instead of putting one name under "bride" and the other under "groom," couples will see two boxes marked "bride/groom/spouse." Connecticut voters could have opened the door to ending gay marriage last week by voting for a constitutional convention to amend the state's constitution, but the measure was defeated."

So what makes this bittersweet? This should be a day of rejoicing, a day of victory, right? And in a way, it is. But this victory comes on the tails of a heartbreaking defeat.

A week ago, the crushing reality of California's betrayal was just beginning to set in. Prop 8 was passed in California, overturning the Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage, and thus invalidating hundreds of marriages in the process, including that of a dear friend of mine.

Sure, Californians voted yes on Prop 2, protecting the treatment of FARM ANIMALS, and ensuring THEIR rights, but what about the rights of human beings? The right to love and be loved by whomever makes you happy? Does it really affect you in anyway whether I marry a man or woman? Does it really affect you if my heart belongs to a Jack or a Jacqueline? No, it doesn't, just like I really could not care less if you were screwing Elizabeth Taylor upside-down from a ceiling fan, as long as you weren't putting either or yourself in PHYSICAL danger.

I may be Wiccan, but I am also, as my English professor puts it, a "recovering Catholic". Six years of Catholic education coupled with thirty one years of Catholic dogma shoved down your throat, and certain things stick with you. Like the fact that Jesus never said "God Hates Fags". In fact, he said "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Nor did he say "Fags Burn In Hell". He said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:2-11). Jesus was one cool dude. He was the original hippie, all about peace and love, even as he was dying, asking God, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). So why do these people keep on hating other people in his name? One of these days, he IS going to come back, if only to curse these people out and say, "hey geniuses! I'd like my religion and my name back, thanks very much!"

Love is love. Love, in ALL its forms, makes the world a better place, and we'd be much better off as a society if we would just stop being judgmental morons.

Just some interesting things that have come my way...

These are some new laws that have been decided on as of last week's election:

Massachusetts Question 2

Decriminalize Marijuana
This proposed law would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Offenders age 18 or older would be subject to forfeiture of the marijuana plus a civil penalty of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 would be subject to the same forfeiture and, if they complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense, the same $100 penalty.


Option Vote% Total Votes
YES 65% 1,938,366
NO 35% 1,036,050

100 % Reporting

South Dakota Initiative 11

Abortion Ban
Currently a woman may obtain an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond 24 weeks, abortions may be performed only if necessary to preserve the life or health of the woman. Measure 11 would prohibit all abortions performed by medical procedures or substances administered to terminate a pregnancy, except for: abortions medically necessary to prevent death or the serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily organ or system of the woman; and abortions to terminate a pregnancy of less than 20 weeks resulting from rape or incest reported to law enforcement. When an abortion is performed as a result of reported rape or incest, the woman must consent to biological sampling from herself and the embryo or fetus for DNA testing by law enforcement. Measure 11 would allow the provision of contraception substances prior to the time pregnancy can be determined by conventional medical testing, or assistance in obtaining abortions in states where the procedure is legal. If approved, Measure 11 will likely be challenged in court and may be declared to be in violation of the United States Constitution. The State may be required to pay attorneys fees and costs.


Option Vote% Total Votes
YES 45% 167,295
NO 55% 206,312

100 % Reporting

Washington Initiative 1000

Medical Choice
This measure would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents medically predicted to die within six months, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. The measure requires two oral and one written request, two physicians to diagnose the patient and determine the patient is competent, a waiting period, and physician verification of an informed patient decision. Physicians, patients and others acting in good faith compliance would have criminal and civil immunity.


Option Vote% Total Votes
YES 59% 942,261
NO 41% 663,945

55 % Reporting

So, in essence, people can buy pot, have abortions, and kill themselves if two doctors say its OK, but if I fall in love with a woman and want to marry her, I can't do it in, what, 48 out of 50 states? What bullshit.

The Times: They Are A-Changin' (written 11/5/08)

Everywhere you go today, the topic of conversation is the new President-Elect. My ten year old sent me a text at 7:58 this morning, before he left for school: "Did you get the news?", and my eighth graders were bubbling over with excitement as they filed into class about two minutes later. They were all giggly about the election, this Presidential race being the first one that will truly be embedded in their memories, and what a memory to have! The race of the first African American Presidential nominee versus the first female Vice Presidential nominee.

However, race and gender aside, I'm hoping what most people will come to realize is that race alone is NOT what decided this election. I am well aware that the mentally-stunted news media in this country didn't think to go to predominantly white neighborhoods and ask who THEY were voting for. Rather, they went for the sensationalized story, the one they'll eventually make biopic about, and went right to predominantly BLACK neighborhoods, or only aired the interviews with black people, and that shifted the focus of what Obama stands for to the color of his skin.

This election should NEVER have been about the color of his skin. It never should have been about Sarah Palin's $150,000 wardrobe, or Cindy McCain's pain killer addiction or anything else but who is best for the COUNTRY. And the country has spoken.

Yes, I'm sure that there are many people out there who voted based on race (black and white alike) and frankly, I disagree. Personally, I voted for Obama because I truly believe that he is the best choice for the presidency of the United States. He believes in what I believe in, for the most part, and, truth be told, McCain DIDN'T.

McCain was anti-choice, anti-sex-ed, anti-gay-rights, intent on keeping our presence in Iraq and a major part of the Power Elite. So was Sarah Palin, and she was a Creationist to boot. I literally got nauseous at the thought of the two of them in office, not to mention McCain's AGE. As the oldest President in HISTORY, we would have (more likely than not) ended up with a President Palin, at least for a time. No way.

However, thank the gods that reality will not come to be. And if anyone wants proof that this country has spoken and spoken LOUDLY, take a good look at the polls themselves. A lot of former "red" states are now "blue" states, and its not because of a sudden increase in black population! Take an in-depth look at the results for Senate elections, both Federal and Local. Democrats have won by a LARGE margin. The citizens of these United States are TIRED of the Republican regime. In New York alone, for the first time in FORTY years, Democrats control the State.

This was a decision of the people, by the people and for the people - the way it should be. If McCain had gotten in, sure, I'd be upset, but one, I'd still support him as my Commander-in-Chief, and two, I would WAIT to see what he was capable of before I even THOUGHT about starting on the whole we're-going-to-Hell-in-a-handbasket nonsense. Be a true American, support your President Elect, and consider yourself lucky to be living at one of the most amazing eras of our history.

On the Brink of History (written 11/4/08)

I have been resolutely staying the hell away from my television tonight, my aversion to it more pronounced tonight than it normally is. I'm trying desperately to avoid the election coverage that is bound to give me a massive panic attack every time I see a state turn red, while simultaneously inducing an uncontrollable, premature urge to jump for joy and break out the celebratory champagne each time another state turns blue.

However, this resolution does not seem to extend to keeping myself far away from my computer, with its seductive black buttons, glaring white screen, and that lovely little "reload" button at the very top of my browser. I've been compulsively reloading CNN's election coverage all night, delighting in Ohio's move to the "dark side" and soundly cursing each McCain projection. I honestly don't know how much more I can take, and with Hawaii six hours behind New York, I may just be up all night waiting for the results to be in.

I know that this election has been an intense one. I stood on line for 45 minutes this morning, waiting to cast my vote, though a lot of that was not due to the long line, but due to the many FIRST TIME voters out there who did not know how to work the ballot machine. I saw a lot of young kids who probably registered the day they turned eighteen, just like I did, standing in line, looking confused, excited and thoroughly terrified by the responsibility in their hands. Friends reported seeing lines wrapped around the block, and in some neighborhoods here in New York, lines were as long as a TWO HOUR WAIT this morning. And people waited - patiently, no complaining. In the 13 years I've been voting, I have never seen such a large, beautiful, and diverse turnout. And it did my heart SO good, especially seeing those of the younger generation exercising their RIGHT to a VOICE! The apathy of previous elections went out the proverbial window with this one, and I am so glad!

Having said all that, I realize that no matter who wins tonight - and with every fiber of my being, I am pulling for Obama/Biden - we are making history. Tomorrow morning, we will either have elected the very first black President or the very first female Vice President, neither of which I ever thought to see in my lifetime. Granted, I still believe Sarah Palin is an idiot, and I would rather have the Clintons' cat (what was his name? Socks?) making the decisions in the Oval Office than that "Maverick", but her nomination is still history-making event.

I do wish that this first female VP candidate had been someone more in-tune with what women in this country actually need and want, rather than someone who tried to appeal to the "mom-and-apple-pie" aspect of this country. I hate to tell you this, Sarah, but that mentality went out, for the most part, with Eisenhower, and that ridiculous winking habit of yours makes you look like you're about suffer a seizure.

The woman gives REAL hockey moms the willies, and she has absolutely no idea what it is like to be a "common" woman in this country. I know she has absolutely nothing in common with me, a single mom, trying to get through college, pay my rent, make ends meet, with enough medical problems to make Ripley's sit up and take notice, living on the outskirts of the projects, enough creditors to rival the National Debt, and working and/or going to school six days a week. Really, Sarah? You know what its like to be me? I doubt it. Walk a mile in my beat-up Converse All-Stars, honey, and then we'll talk.

It reminds me of when Bush Sr was campaigning and he went food shopping to prove he was a "man of the people". His handlers taped him, the whole bit. It was obvious that the man had never been food shopping in his entire life, because he stared in dumbfounded amazement at the "magic" of the barcode scanner at the grocery store! I'm pretty sure he'd have a stroke if he strolled on in to Pathmark now, and got a good ol' look at the - Heavens to Betsy! - self-scanners!! "You mean, you have to do ALL the work yourself?" "Yes, George, but we get in and out faster, because unlike you, we don't have time to waste idling on the golf course. We have to go put in a 16 hour work day to make ends meet."

Biden KNOWS what it's like to not know where you're going to get the money to pay your next bill. Obama KNOWS what it's like to grow up poor and become a success on through hard work, brains, talent and sheer will. Let the naysayers call them Socialists. I call them a breath of fresh air, what this country needs, and Gods help us all if they don't win.