It Gets Better

Just because this is a cause dear to my heart, and I've been remiss not to share these links in the past...

It Gets Better: http://www.itgetsbetter.org

Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

One could argue, especially considering where I live, that I'm lucky to be who I am: white, Christian, straight, and married, living in a home that I own, and essentially being a stay-at-home mom. We are the epitome of the conventional middle-American household. But, that doesn't mean I haven't seen how difficult it is for those men and women who walk a different path. Yes, it does get better...but it could be SO MUCH MORE SO if the people in this country had the courage to stand up for what's right, or at the very least, keep their noses and their legislation out of other people's private business (and bedrooms). Did you know it's legal to marry your own cousin in Wisconsin (provided one of you is sterile - ha!) but illegal to marry someone of the same gender? Could it get any more ridiculous?

A wise woman once told me, "Be who you are, because you're awesome." She probably doesn't remember the exchange, but I do. And, at the time, it made all the difference.

And for her, and for everyone who has ever accepted me for who I am - socially incompetent and often resentful as I am - I promise that I will never remain silent in the presence of any sort of bullying. Whether by fists or by legislation, it's still wrong...and I'll not tolerate it.

Well done, NY!

From:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/nyregion/gay-marriage-approved-by-new-york-senate.html?_r=2&hp

But Mr. Grisanti, a Buffalo Republican who opposed gay marriage when he ran for election last year, said he had studied the issue closely, agonized over his responsibility as a lawmaker, and concluded he could not vote against the bill. Mr. Grisanti voted yes. "I apologize for those who feel offended," he said. "I cannot deny, a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife."

And that, my friends, is the very point. If we truly believe, as is written in our Constitution, in the separation of Church and State, the way forward is clear. Baring one section of the population the right to marry while allowing it for another is no different than denying women the right to vote due to their gender, or African Americans due to their race. We gave all citizens over the age of 18 - regardless of race or gender - the right to vote a long time ago.
Now, it is time to let them marry whom they wish. While it is well within the rights of the Church to bar the sacrament of marriage to whomever they deem unfit (for whatever reason and however distasteful I find it), it is not a power the state should have.

I can only hope all states follow what Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, DC, and now NY have started. I've been happily married to my husband for nearly 6 years, and I cannot imagine a life in which the government prevented our union. I am thankful for him every day, and hope this new bill in NY paves the way the happiness of many other couples.

Get Over It!

I need to preface this post by saying that I generally find the use of vulgar language repulsive and pointless. That said, this video has a point to make, and for as long as this country is pathetic enough to consider it an issue, I will set aside my values to share it.

This is the bleeped version, but it's still painfully obvious what's being said SO please be warned that this is not a child-friendly video.



Banning gay marriage is discrimination, plain and simple. Discrimination is not only morally wrong, it is also illegal in the United States. It would be wise of us to keep this in mind.