NY Daily News Slams GOP Presidential Candidates on San Bernardino Response

I almost didn't write up anything on this, only our most recent mass shooting this week. But tomorrow's New York Daily News has a take so refreshing, I had to say something. As is usual, the GOP presidential candidates (who still number in the teens) offered up platitudes about prayer in response to the shooting in San Bernardino. As an atheist, my cynical side rolls its eyes, and says, "Well, that's the least you can do. The very least."

But hold up, several of these guys are actually in the House of Representatives and Senate. They can do more than pray, they can do something meaningful about it, if they wanted to. So, why don't they? Because they're terrified of their own base, and the NRA.

[Excerpt]

New York Daily News Rips GOP Leaders For “Meaningless Platitudes” In Wake Of Mass Shooting

Over the last few years the New York Daily News has devoted countless screaming headlines which denounced the NRA, its head Wayne LaPierre, and many other gun control opponents. . .

Source: Joe.My.God.

San Diego's Mayor Filner to be Replaced by . . . (Gasp!). . .a Gay Man!

Todd Gloria, soon-to-be Mayor of San Diego,
image from source, AddictingInfo

The overly dramatic headline is not meant to disparage the man who is taking the job of Mayor of San Diego. No, it's meant to point out the pearl-clutching of the far right, who are aghast and appalled that the new mayor is gay. Good grief, people, really? Do conservatives not realize that they--almost all of them--have gay people in their families, and circle of friends? You'd think we were aliens or zombies or something, geez.

[Excerpt]

San Diego’s New Mayor Is A Gay Man And That’s Making The Right Crazy

With the news of Bob Filner’s resignation bringing an end to a turbulent six weeks of  scandal in San Diego, we discover who will step in to fill the office. His name is Todd Gloria. He is the President of the City Council and will become acting Mayor once Filner’s resignation goes into effect on August 30th. Gloria is from two military families – a common situation in the Navy-oriented city – and his ancestry bears this out: he is Native Alaskan, Filipino, Dutch and Puerto Rican, with all four grandparents making their way to San Diego from vastly different places. That, right there, is enough to make right-wing heads spin but when you add that he is gay… can you hear the heads exploding? . . .

Read more at: AddictingInfo

The Gay Thing: Supreme Court Denies Bid to Halt California Marriages

I've returned from a wonderful weekend in Palm Springs, celebrating my 5-year wedding anniversary to The Other Half. It was great to revisit the place of our marriage, and especially sweet to do so when same-sex marriage had been ruled legal again in California. But I've been a bit out of the loop on the happenings in the news.

When I saw via Twitter that the proponents of Proposition 8 was appalled and aghast that marriages had resumed on Friday, I experienced several feelings. Elation that weddings would resume while we were there. Happiness that this ridiculously protracted battle was over. Eye-rolling bemusement that this group would still not give up. And anger that even with the highest court in the land shutting them down, the National Organization for Marriage and their ilk are still obsessed with trying to squash my rights.

But schadenfreude is my overriding emotion. Especially now that the Supreme Court has thrown up a final--final--barrier. NOM has lost California. From now on, they can huff, and they can puff, but they are done. And it portends an eventual right to 50-state marriage, particularly when coupled with the DOMA decision that gives Federal recognition to married couples in some states, but not others. I'd very much like to confine my future responses to this question exactly as Nancy Pelosi responded to a question about Michele Bachmann's statements on the issue: "Who cares?" But that wouldn't fill much of a blog post, would it?

[Excerpt]

Supreme Court rejects bid to halt same-sex marriages in California

The Supreme Court rejected an emergency request to stop same-sex marriages in California, a lawyer for the gay couples who sued said Sunday. Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., one of the lawyers who challenged Proposition 8, said that he had just received word from the court Sunday morning that Justice Anthony M. Kennedy denied a request by ProtectMarriage, the sponsors of Proposition 8, to halt the marriages. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times

The Gay Thing: California, Here We Come!

We planned, long ago, to "return to the scene of the crime," and revisit Palm Springs on our fifth wedding anniversary. We got married a couple of weeks after same-sex marriage was legalized in June 2008. In November of that year, Proposition 8--sponsored largely by outside monies gathered in conjunction with the Catholic and Mormon Churches--passed on the same night Barack Obama was elected President. That was a paradoxical occurrence, one seemingly perfectly timed. The Prop 8 backers couldn't have known it, but that year was likely the very last time they could muster a majority vote against gay marriage in California.

Five long years have passed since that brief sunny period when same-sex couples could marry in California. At first, we were thrown into legal limbo. After some legal procedures we found out that stay that way, not that the Prop 8ers didn't try to annul us--they did. Next, there was a lawsuit against the state which resulted in throwing out Prop 8 as un-Constitutional, but wait! Can't let them just repeal it, no-no. A stay was placed, and appeal filed. . . and then an appeals court that concurred. . .then another stay. . .and then THE SUPREMES!

See, religious objectors? Not married in church, but at this
awesome city hall in Palm Springs. No Jesus, no "holy
matrimony." So, chill out.

Prop 8 had been legally drafted and voted upon (there had been procedural questions), and the 18,000 couples who had already married got to

For people like me who followed all of this, it was a long, aggravating slog. At all points along the way, and in internet message boards, Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere, we were subjected to homophobic idiots, all spewing the same loads of crap that failed in court. Worse, most "pro-traditional marriage" types seemed to have very little understanding of what the case entailed, though they think they know everything about "the homosexual lifestyle." Following that stuff is just a hideous, awful, viper's nest.

A lot of that is gloriously, fantastically over with. Of course, haters go'n hate, and there will still be spewing of nonsense. But it will be easier to let that stuff just roll off now.  California marriage equality will resume after a pointless, expensive interlude. I take great pleasure in knowing that the combined homophobic forces like National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and their affiliates spent millions and millions of dollars, and got nothing. This is my message to all of these busybody, Gladys Kravitzes. . .

So what does the death of Proposition 8, and the gutting of the badly named Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) mean for gay people? Well, it's not all 100% clear yet.  If you're legally married and reside within a state that recognizes it, you're good as gold, as married as married can be to all relevant government bodies and entities. If you're like me, and were married in a state that does recognize it, but live in one that doesn't, it's less clear, though it seems like we'll be able to have federal recognition, but not state.

I'm willing to bet that very, very soon, there will be several lawsuits over this very issue, and will very likely be won under the "full faith and credit" clause of the Constitution. The question is this: will it have to be done in each of the 37 states that don't recognize it, or with SCOTUS step in again?

At this point, I don't care about all of that. We got a huge win in this, regardless of whatever spin you hear. NOM lost; straight up lost. And that makes me very happy.

The Gay Thing: WE WIN!!!

The (always badly named) Defense of Marriage Act has been declared un-Constitutional by the Supreme Court! And the California Proposition 8 case was dismissed on lack of standing by the defense, meaning the lower court ruling stands, and same-sex marriages are going to be legal again in California. WOOHOOO!!!

Ramifications will be come clearer throughout the day, much more to come later. For now, back to work.

The Gay Thing: Supreme Court to Decide Prop 8 & DOMA Today

My assumption that the Supreme Court would decide the fate of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8 on Thursday turned out to be wrong. Apparently it is some time today, and I'm actually a little beside myself. I needn't worry of course, my 2008 California marriage is secure either way. And hell, even if it was annulled, it's not going to change my relationship, SCOTUS be damned.

Still, both cases could have huge ramifications for gay people in general, and even for my marriage as it applies to federal law, and in other states. If neither case goes our way, it will be mostly a symbolic blow: something that catches headlines, and visibly stalls our momentum. But even in this worst-case scenario, nothing will actually have changed. It would be a status quo decision. Gay rights would continue on, marriage equality would continue on, and California would probably vote on a reversal of Proposition 8 anyway.

There are multiple ways the decisions could go, the easiest for SCOTUS would be to punt one or both cases on standing, in which case the gay side wins, though the ramifications are unclear. They could vote to kill DOMA and/or Prop 8, but limit the scope. Or they could make a very broad ruling. All of these eventualities in any combination is still pretty much a win for the pro-gay side. Only a decision to uphold both DOMA and Prop 8 is a total loss, and as I said before, that leaves us where we started, with a black eye (or two), but no backward movement.

One thing I can tell you: I don't appreciate having my life, my relationship's legal status as equal United States citizens hinging upon the whims of some of the people on this court. And one wonderful result--should we score even a modest victory--would be a reduction in the possibility that my life is ever a political football again.

And either way, we're going to have fun in Palm Springs, where we were married, on our 5th anniversary. That's one thing they absolutely can not take from us!

And again--any high tech robbers out there--we've got a house sitter, so just forget it!

The Gay Thing: SCOTUS Watch (DOMA & Prop 8 Decisions Due)

For the past few weeks, there have been a whole lot of people waiting with bated breath for the Supreme Court to issue their rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case, and the California Proposition 8 case, both with huge ramifications for gay rights and marriage equality. All along, many court-watching professionals have indicated they thought the decisions wouldn't come down until the last week of the session, perhaps even on the very last day of it.

New tungsten carbide/carbon fiber wedding bands
for the anniversary!

Still, each recent Monday, there have been many with crossed fingers awaiting a decision, only to be disappointed. And then Thursdays--apparently a bonus decision day irregularly added--there has been another trickle of news, but nothing on the gay stuff. All through this, I've been aware that the last day of the Court's calendar is June 27, which happens to be the 5th anniversary of my same-sex marriage in California! Which seems as much like fate or kismet as an atheist like me is comfortable with. Now, it is possible that the decisions will come down today, or even be split between today and Thursday. But I have a hunch they're coming down--both of them--on my anniversary. I'm hopeful that whenever it happens, it is good news. And as we are going to be back in Palm Springs where we were married on our actual anniversary, it would be pretty cool to have a favorable verdict on both cases.

Watch this space.

PS: Oh, and hey, to any tech-savvy robbers out there, we've got a house sitter, so just forget it, alright? Cool.

The Gay Thing: Living With Success and Setbacks

Back when I started this blog (almost 6 years ago now), I did a series of Behind the Blogger posts to introduce myself to whatever scant readership was around in those early days. I titled those segments in a similar way, The Politics Thing, The Religion Thing, The Writing Thing, The Debt Thing and ultimately The Gay Thing. I started the blog as an outlet for my frustrations during the second George W. Bush administration, not as a gay rights blog, neither primarily or even secondarily.

As the blog has evolved, and as news has more often been about The Gay Thing, there have been days--hell, sometimes whole weeks--where it seemed like this was full-on gay rights news blog. For some reason, I feel compelled to apologize for that, and explain it away with humor. This isn't due to some sort of lingering shame or self-loathing, it's just not the mission I set out for the blog. But maybe it should be.

My turn was 1996. A lifetime ago!

Or rather, maybe I should just allow the subject to be more front-and-center. Oh, I doubt things will change too much around here. In fact the extent of the changes are thus: the banner above has been created, and will be used for most stories with this subject. And I'm not apologizing or explaining the reason for the posts anymore. They are just part of the blog. I started making banners for different subjects a few years ago, and continue to add them when I recognize that I'm continuing on a theme. It's time The Gay Thing was it's own thing here at Greenlee Gazette.

Being gay in America has always had its challenges. I became an adult in a very scary era for gay people, the birth of the AIDS crisis. It kept me fairly monk-like in my behavior through much of the 1980s, which I can credit for a very lonely early 20s, and with potentially saving my life. I also never experienced the mass death of a circle of friends, because I was not in or of the community. I was unplugged, and am in some ways removed from my own generation.

But I was always clued in to any scrap of news, so it's not like I didn't know what was going on. And by the time I came out to the world at large at age 30, America was an easier place to be gay than at any earlier time. Sure, we were still used as a wedge issue, a scare tactic. Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) had only been law--by Bill Clinton of all people--for a couple of years. But friends and family were immediately (or almost immediately) accepting and supportive. It was practically painless.

Married for almost 5 years now, legally, though not in NV.
One reason that it is frustrating to have the topic of gay
marriage treated as a hypothetical. We've been getting
married for almost a decade now.

There was a dark time not long after that, for gay people across the country. There were rumblings of activity in Hawaii, where it appeared that gay marriage might become legal. In a panic--or in a shrewd fundraising/electoral move--the right wing went into heavy demonizing mode. In states across the country, they started passing preemptive laws and constitutional amendments that barred gay marriage. Often times, the laws were redundant, where marriage was already defined as "one man, one woman." Didn't matter, it was time to make a stand. The biggest move--again, by Bill Clinton--was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The most head-scratching was the constitutional amendment in Nevada, home of the quickie marriage and quickie divorce.

All through this, the right maintained that it wasn't an anti-gay movement, no, no. They were merely "protecting marriage."  This focus-tested phrase came straight from groups with likewise focus-tested names, usually including the word "Family." But their motives have always been transparent. It doesn't take much effort to find a "traditional marriage" crusader's core motives, if you simply engage them in conversation. It's largely a fundamental inability for them to separate holy matrimony from civil marriage. And an inability to truly get them to acknowledge a separation of church and state.

A lot rests in SCOTUS's hands. Not scary at all. . .

But the tide has turned! The wave of anti-gay marriage measures seemed to not only recede, but race in the opposite direction. In April, we were up to 9 states plus the District of Columbia with full marriage equality. In this month alone, we've gained 3 more, with the possible inclusion of Illinois by month's end, plus very likely regaining California in June.

June is when the Supreme Court announces their rulings on DOMA and Proposition 8 (the referendum that rescinded same-sex marriage rights in California). Most SCOTUS followers believe we will get modest gains for marriage equality at the very least, with the possibility for a broader ruling. And this happens on my 5th wedding anniversary, which is very cool!

But any celebration is tempered by reality. In recent days, there have been reminders that gay people are not fully equal, or sometimes even safe in our own country. There's a teenaged girl whose girlfriend's parents conspired with police to arrest as soon as she turned 18, because the girl was dating their 15-year-old daughter, the motivation being that they didn't want their daughter to be gay. A Texas lesbian with a child by a previous marriage was ordered that she cannot reside with her partner and retain custody. There was a man shot in the head in New York City, killed just for being gay. There has been a rash of assaults in that city, all motivated by anti-gay animus.

A veritable anti-gay crime wave has hit NYC
Read about it here.

Gays are routinely viciously maligned on Twitter, Facebook, message boards, blogs, letters to the editor, and any other forum when a gay related issue is being discussed. "Good Christian" business owners are fighting for the right to refuse the sale of goods and services to gay people, because they "disagree with the lifestyle." Organizations like the "Family" ones mentioned above and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) exist solely or primarily to actively fight gay civil rights. The Boy Scouts--who, to their credit just decided to allow gay scouts to be members--won't allow gay leaders. Arguments on that subject (and many others) falsely equate homosexuality with pedophilia. And finally, gays were used as a weapon again by the GOP, who held the immigration reform bill hostage, so long as it allowed gay married bi-national couples to be covered under it.

In short (I know, too late), there are still many mountains to climb for full civil equality.  And while I haven't been silent by any stretch, I have been reserved, timid even, though less so lately. I'm going to stop shying away. This is my blog after all, and it isn't as if I have an enormous and dedicated following anyway. So, expect to see the subject covered without apology from now on. Thank you.

Rhode Island 10th State (Plus DC) with Legal Marriage Equality

Get a room, you guys! Kidding. . .
Image from Huffington Post

Yes, the gay just keeps hitting the news cycle, and thus, the blog. Of course at this point, any regular readers have got to be used to it, or have already left, right? Anyway, it's worth pointing out that Rhode Island is the final state in New England to legalize same-sex marriage, rounding out 10 states in the union (in addition to Washington, DC), bit is actually the eleventh state to actually do it. California--where I was married to The Other Half in 2008--took it away in the same year, after it was already legal. That will ultimately be decided by SCOTUS in June, potentially putting the count back to 11+1. Counting the District of Columbia, that would put marriage equality at 23.5% of the country. One more state--Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, all possibilities--will put it over 25%. As my favorite blogger Joe.My.God. is fond of saying: "Zoom, zoom, zoom!"

[Excerpt]

Rhode Island Legalizes Gay Marriage

Rhode Island became the tenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage Thursday with a 56-15 vote.
Just before he signed the legislation into law, Gov. Lincoln Chafee took to the steps of the Rhode Island State House, where he told a jubilant crowd, "Today we are making history ... we are living up to the ideals of our founder. . ." 

Read more at: Huffington Post

The Internets Go Gay for a Day (Or Two?)

I know what you've been thinking, if you've been online much today. Something like this:

Am I right? Yes, on any given day, unless you're a very sheltered person, you may be confronted with gay stories and subject matter in a variety of places. But because of the two very high profile cases before the Supreme Court--California's Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act--gay stuff is suddenly everywhere. And I have one thing to say to anyone who is overwhelmed or offended by the spectacle:

Suck it up! Now you know how gay people feel! Every day is straight people day, and we learn to live with it. Seriously though, you don't have to put up with it on this scale every day, so just keep calm, and carry on. And if you're still asking yourself the question, "why do the gays want to get married anyway?" I have another entertaining piece of video to show you that explains everything.

Oh and by the way? I'm not done with the subject by a long shot, so if you arrived here and don't like it? Come back in a few days, okay? On second thought, don't come back.

Democratic Congress Members Sign on to Strike Down DOMA

Image from Towleroad

The Supreme Court will have a lot of incentive from some high wattage names to back up a decision to strike California's Proposition 8, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). They just keep pouring in, the latest being from 212 Democratic members of Congress. Sure, there are naysayers and busybodies sending in their briefs to retain both Prop 8 and DOMA, but I don't think (or hope) that they'll be as persuasive. The good guys are calling for tolerance, equality and justice. The bad guys are calling for the right to continue discriminating, to prevent people from having equal rights, and to base law on religion. If SCOTUS upholds either DOMA or Prop 8, it will be a sign that politics ultimately trumps the Constitution and fair play. And it will be a very sad day for America. Crossing my fingers that it doesn't end that way.

[Excerpt]

212 Democratic Members of Congress Ask Supreme Court to Strike Down DOMA: BRIEF

212 Democratic members of Congress led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) including all seven out LGBT members and some who voted for DOMA in 1996 have asked the Supreme Court to strike it down in a brief submitted today in the Edith Windsor case. . .

Read more: Towleroad

More Than 75 Prominent Republicans Rebuke Prop 8

So, Meg Whitman is now an ally?
Weird. Image from Towleroad.

Yes, two stories about the gay in a row. But hey, it's in the news! This one is particularly interesting. Though I'm not sure I agree with the reasoning of this group of Republicans, this is a case where the ends justify the means: major GOPers on the record against Proposition 8, the referendum that struck down same-sex marriage in California (after it was already legal).

I'm half of one of the 18,000+ couples who were married in California in 2008, and though my marriage is "grandfathered," it is still in something of a limbo, a "pocket universe," or something. The Supreme Court could--should, dare I say--strike Prop. 8 down this spring.  Though that may only affect California, it's possible that it could cause the dominoes to fall, particularly if they also strike down all or part of DOMA. Fingers crossed. . .

[Excerpt]

75+ Prominent Republicans Sign Brief Urging Supreme Court to Strike Down Proposition 8

More than 75 current and former GOP elected officials including former Reagan and Bush cabinet members, former governors, and key GOP consultants and strategists have signed on to an amicus brief to be filed on Thursday urging the Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8. . .

Read more: Towleroad

SCOTUS Takes Two Gay Marriage Cases

Image from ABCNews

Oy. I'm a gay blogger who is actually half of a gay-married-in-California couple, and I'm plugged into the politics of marriage equality. I even get updates to my phone if a scintilla of homo news crosses the newswires! But even I don't know what to make of Friday's announcement from the Supreme Court.

SCOTUS is taking up two cases of more than 10 before them related to same-sex marriage rights. One of them is the one most famously known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case that overturned California's Proposition 8. Prop 8 reversed a California Supreme Court ruling that allowed gay couples to wed--including me--in California during a brief window in 2008. Three court decisions have now affirmed that Prop 8 was unconstitutional, and therefore invalid. A stay has been placed all of this time, disallowing any further same-sex marriages in the state.

Well, the busybodies who put Prop 8 on the ballot in the first place are a tenacious bunch. Who knows what in the world drives them to be so involved in something that concerns them in no way whatsoever. But they have been appealing this up, up, up all the way to the Supremes, though they've been losing all the way. The key worry is that this happens to be pretty much the most conservative SCOTUS in history. Will they rule this case on the merits--and if so, I could relax--or will they go arch-right-wing? Will they use pretzel logic, as they do when they allow God on the money and in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or will this case finally be settled in marriage equality's favor five years after it began? We'll know in June.

We'll also find out how the case against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) goes. That one, I'm fairly certain will go our way. DOMA has lost case after case in several courts. Just about the only thing the Supremes would have to hang their robes on (assuming they'd want to keep DOMA intact) would be the recent Nevada decision, which ruled my state's marriage ban* constitutional. Otherwise, unless they do deep logic backflips, they pretty much have to kill at least part of DOMA. And good riddance.

My marriage license from California
(Blurred to protect the innocent!)

In any event, may I say--as a taxpaying, law-abiding citizen--that I'm sick and tired. I'm offended. I'm angry, and I'm indignant. Why? Because I shouldn't have to beg for equal rights. My life, my husband's life, and our lives together shouldn't be subject to the whims of ignorant bigots or uninformed voters. We shouldn't be a "wedge issue." And we shouldn't have this long delayed slog through the courts, and be kept on pins and needles for months and years on end. I want this to end, and I want equality to win. Let the busybodies stick their prudish, superstitious, illogical noses into somebody else's business.

[Excerpt]

Supreme Court Will Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases

The Supreme Court plunged into the contentious issue of gay marriage Friday when it agreed to take up California's ban on same-sex unions and a separate dispute about federal benefits for legally married gay couples. . . 

Read more at: ABC News

*The Nevada marriage ban is especially galling, since I was here for both votes (two are required to change the Nevada State Constitution). A human-shaped turd named Richard Ziser--in cahoots with radio personality Alan Stock--managed to convince the voters of Nevada that our state believes in "the sanctity of marriage." Now, forget that "sanctity" is a religious concept, not a state one. No, more important is that this is Nevada we're talking about. As I've said before, we're the state of quickie marriages (Britney Spears, for example), quickie divorces, drive-thru wedding chapels, Elvis impersonator "preachers" and the Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire game show, where the prize was a rich husband! "Disingenuous" is the most charitable description of the entire campaign. They won, but only because it was one of the early efforts, and the gay community here is to amorphous. Fortunately, Ziser's political aspirations didn't pan out. And Stock hasn't exactly become a household name.

I Has a Sad: Fresh & Easy May Close or Sell

Fresh  & Easy Down & Out? Image from source.

Well, poop. Fresh & Easy is a grocery store chain that has become a favorite of mine. They're in an unusual niche between a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe's, with a dash of a small, urban grocery. They have a limited selection, and it took me a while to figure out quite what they were. But once you figure out what they specialize in, it becomes a real treat. They've got consistent, low prices on hamburger, cheeses and limited produce. They have a wide variety of prepared, plated meals--fresh, not frozen--perfect for grabbing on your way to work for lunch, or for an easy dinner on your way home. When they have sales on things like hams, I make a special trip. When I'm getting my hair cut next door, I invariably stop in to see what goodies I can find. They also have a markdown area that can yield amazing deals on all of the above.

So, I'm hopeful that the corporate parent finds a buyer who retains the character and products that Fresh & Easy currently carries. They may not be paying off for share holders, but they've got a lot of fans, particularly here in Las Vegas.

[Excerpt]

Tesco may sell all Fresh & Easy stores

British supermarket giant Tesco may soon be bidding bon voyage to its American problem child.
Five years after the company landed in California and opened 200 stores across the West, Tesco said it is preparing to sell its struggling Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market chain and retreat from the U.S. market altogether. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times

Travelogue, Part the Second

Fun times on the beach.

The Google Blogger software is eating this post worse than the food we were consuming in mass quantities on our just completed trip. I don't even remember what my intro was, other than to say that we spent several days in Yachats, Oregon, and then drove back to Oakland to fly home. We got the Cliff's Notes tour of San Francisco, including lunch at the Wharf. Here is what remains of my post, I know not where the rest went. . .

Friends we were traveling with were expert "foodies," so the eating was a large part of the trip. We ate in great restaurants, and had one incredible home-cooked meal. The six of us have been travel buddies many times in the past, so it was quite an interesting adventure to visit two of them, now ensconced in a tourist destination of their own, separate and apart from Las Vegas.

Homemade grilled peaches with prosciutto!

It will not be possible to encapsulate the trip, its pleasures and its warm memories in this post. Particularly not in the waning hours before returning to work on Tuesday morning. Let it suffice to say that a great time was had by all. And though we spent a small fortune between us, we are now eagerly starting travel funds to do it all again!

The "Gone Fishin'" banner will remain until Tuesday evening, to allow me until then to recharge and start blogging again. Until then, as you were!

See you soon. And thanks to my friends for a wonderful experience.

See what I mean about the diet?

4th Anniversary for Greenlee Gazette Editor's Big Gay Marriage!

The only time I ever use the term "gay marriage" is in internet discussions, because that is the colloquial term most used. "Same-sex marriage" is a little more descriptive, but still cumbersome. "Marriage equality" is now the preferred term by supporters. The decidedly odd opposition (I mean really, who dedicates their life to trying to stop other peoples' weddings, outside of a soap opera?) has more colorful, but usually badly descriptive terms. I just call mine a marriage.

But I'd be lying if I said that my fourth marriage anniversary with The Other Half is a huge event. We've been together for 14-1/2 years. We got married in Palm Springs just a few weeks short of 10-1/2 years together. So "four" sounds kind of silly. And there was no pomp nor circumstance at our wedding. Just a couple of friends, and later, dinner at a Mexican restaurant with them. The date was chosen because we were nearly certain that Prop. 8 was going to pass, and make the possibility disappear, at least in a nearby state. We already felt "married," but on June 27, we made it official.  And, of course, the busybodies (armed with bucketloads of cash from the Mormon and Catholic churches) managed to convince enough Californians to squash marriage equality in the state.

Our marriage is still valid in the states where same-sex marriage is still legal. In some of the states that have legalized it, the busybodies are at work again, trying to reverse it. Why, I have no idea. This is no longer a hypothetical concept. We're real, married couples. And the sky didn't fall. "God" didn't swallow up those states. And to what end? Even if my marriage did get nullified by voters (and in America, can you imagine that concept?), are we going to split up? No. Are we going to stop being gay? No. Stop loving each other? No.

I started this post with the intention of merely commenting on my anniversary, and saying "I love you honey" to The Other Half. But posts on this blog are read by many who never comment, never tell me they were here. This is an important issue, and I think it needs to be reiterated again and again. If you take nothing else from this post, remember this: Gay people aren't looking for "holy matrimony." If we wanted a church wedding, there are already denominations who will accommodate that. We're looking for nothing more than civil marriage equality. Civil marriages only include religion if you want them to. Unless you're going to try and stop atheist and interfaith marriages.

Proposition 8 Knocked Down Again

Image from source, LA Times

Yesterday was all about Scott Walker, and he (and all of the other recall targets) inexplicably retained their seats. I never said I understood Wisconsin, or why toady politicians often get eternally re-elected. But that's not all that was going on in the news. The California "Proposition 8" battle logged another loss for the proponents.

I have a personal stake in the case, being one-half of one of the 18,000 same-sex couples who were married in California in the brief months in which it was legal. My marriage remains legal, in a weird grandfathered pocket, but no same-sex couples have been allowed to marry since November 2008, when Proposition 8 was passed. Since then, Proposition 8 was put to a legal challenge, and lost badly. Seriously, the defense was comically bad. And then that was appealed.

And appealed again. Along the way, it was whittled down to a very narrow "California only" decision, meaning that even if it goes to the Supreme Court, it would likely only deal with California, not the entire country. Which is fortunate if the Supremes are inclined to rule in favor of Prop 8 (and thus against gay couples), or a delay if they rule against (and might have made marriage equality national). I personally believe that an unbiased, un-politically motivated court would rule in favor of marriage equality, on the legal merits. But we know that the SCOTUS does not operate in a political vacuum. And I don't want to test this court unnecessarily. After Citizens United, who could trust them?

[Excerpt]


Proposition 8 same-sex marriage fight headed to U.S. Supreme Court

California's legal battle over same-sex nuptials is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the final chapter in four years of litigation over the constitutionality of Proposition 8's ban on gay marriage. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times

Orly Taitz NOT a Winner in Senate Primary

Dr. Orly Taitz, Esq.

California had a weird primary this year, dumping all of the candidates--Republican, Democrat and otherwise--into one primary election, with the two top winners facing off in November. Why? Yeah, I don't know. Anyway, the one big worry was that "Birther Queen" Orly Taitz could have been in the #2 slot for Senate after Diane Feinstein.

Orly (a word that is short for "oh, really?" in internet speak) Taitz is the seemingly crazy lost Gabor sister. She is--if I'm not mistaken--a lawyer/dentist/real estate agent. And she is on a loony crusade to get President Obama ejected from the White House on the grounds that he is ineligible to be President. She has many different reasons for this, from his "fake" birth certificate(s), alleged numerous Social Security numbers, some strange stuff about him being adopted, dual or renounced citizenship, just all kinds of stuff. Some of it self-contradictory.

I could go on and on about Orly, but I won't. She--luckily for the California and national GOP--will not be a candidate for Senate. Her quixotic quest to unseat Obama has seen nothing but defeat, and sometimes punishment from the judiciary. As such, unless she goes on a murderous rampage, has sex reassignment surgery or reveals herself to be Andy Kaufmann, I expect this to be my last post, ever on Dr. Orly Taitz, Esq.

The cat is mine, the hair is Orly's.

[Excerpt]


Sen. Dianne Feinstein is assured a spot on fall ballot

Feinstein captured about 51% of the early balloting, assuring her a place in the general election under the state's new "top-two" primary rules. . .[Susan] Emken was among 14 Republicans wanting to take on Feinstein. Others included Oceanside businessman Dan Hughes and dentist/attorney Orly Taitz of Laguna Niguel, who gained name recognition for her efforts to show that President Obama was not born in the U.S. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times

Another Step in the Prop 8 Case Tuesday

Image from Towleroad

Tuesday isn't just about the recall votes in Wisconsin. It's also the day we hear the next phase in the seemingly glacially slow Proposition 8 case in California. I got married to my husband during the short window of time when it was legal. We'll have our fourth anniversary (though together for over 14 years) this month. Voters took away that right for others the following November, the same night President Obama was elected. Since then, there has been a huge trial on the subject in which Prop 8 was overturned. But the busybodies who brought the issue up wouldn't have it, and so the case is like a beachball being batted around. That ball comes down again today.

Whatever happens, the ball is going to be batted again, it's just a question of which direction. Unfortunately, the misguided Prop 8 proponents are much more passionate on the issue than a lot of marriage equality supporters. Or, I should say, they get more fired up about it. While I was mightily impressed with the legal team on the marriage equality side (the defense was just horrible, go read the case if you don't believe me), and with Judge Walker's decision, I don't have a lot of confidence in the legal system, particularly the Supreme Court. I meanwhile remain hopeful.


[Excerpt]


Ninth Circuit Announces Filing Tomorrow in Prop 8 Case Likely to Be Decision on 'En Banc' Rehearing
KQED's Scott Shafer said this is almost surely the decision on whether to rehear the case en banc. An en banc panel is made up of 11 judges, chosen at random from the circuit.

If the 9th Circuit denies the request, Prop 8 supporters will almost certainly ask the United States Supreme Court to hear the case. . .

Read more at: Towleroad

In Case You Missed It: 8

Dustin Lance Black's play, 8, the dramatization of the California Proposition 8 trial. If you don't know, Prop. 8 was the amendment to the state constitution that struck down same-sex marriage rights, which had been in existence for several months. The play was performed this past weekend, and stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Christine Lahti, George Takei, Yeardly Smith, Matt Bomer, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Martin Sheen and many more. It's worth your time. Oh, and Kevin Bacon! Which makes your 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon game even easier.

Incidentally, having now watched the entire show, it occurs to me to tell you something. I followed this case with great interest, through The Courage Campaign. You might think that the comedic moments (best embodied by John C. Reilly and George Takei) were dramatic license. The characterizations might have been, but this is the way it really went down. Those were their words. When Kevin Bacon as the defense lawyer said, "we don't need evidence" and "I don't know," the lawyer really did say that. This is why the pro-marriage equality side is so confident in Judge Walker's decision. Ted Olson and David Bois quite simply demolished the defense. They were so good, but might not have had to be, given the weekness of the other side!