Separate Ain't Equal

I'm often asked on the job why the word "marriage" is so important. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are semblances of marriage, they are without thousands of rights guaranteed by marriage. Marriage is not just a religious sacrament, it's a legal distinction, and for gay couples to be treated equally they need the same protection. Love is Love, Equality is Equality, Marriage is Marriage.

"Thank You For Your Call" is an excellent video detailing one of those 1500 rights guaranteed by marriage that are NOT protect under domestic partnerships. Check it out.

found from a blog post on The Advocate:

As with our nation's history with racial equality & women's suffrage... separate isn't equal. Women are still being paid 77 cents to every 1$ a man "earns", and LGBT couples can't get survivor benefits (even with 'domestic partnerships' in "gay-friendly" California).

Would you trade your marriage for a domestic partnership?

... separate < equal.

I know, this a little heavy on an AM monday, but THAT'S REAL LIFE!

On to better news, this my new jam by singer/songwriter Keri Hilson. This song is too much for me, and I hope it resonates with you.

(get it in Keri) :

she is muggin gorgeous.

It's a celebration bitches.

cox out. no homo.

Of Equal Importance

Good Morning Bitches!

There are two stories news-worthiwhile this glorious Wednesday. The first being the long-awaited arrival of the ruling on California's Prop 8. For those unfamiliar to Prop 8, it was a ballot initiative to amend the California constitution during the 2008 fall election by making marriage only between a man and a women, thus excluding gay couples from marrying. (LGBT couples had since been marrying in the state for 5 months; over 18,000 currently have marriage licenses). The 'Yes on 8' campaign was backed by religious and conservative groups who collectively spent over $80 million to protect the 'sanctity of marriage'. Yea.

We'll see how the ruling affects my job. I expect to adopt a strategy to explain why the issue will not be resolved with any one ruling.

more @:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/04/california.same.sex.ruling/index.html?hpt=Sbin

And, of equal importance:

this is the latest news from my Inception crush actor Tom Hardy on his experience with gay sex:

"

"Of course I have. I'm an actor for f*ck's sake. I've played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I'm in my thirties, it doesn't do it for me. I'm done experimenting but there's plenty of stuff in a relationship with another man, especially gay men, that I need in my life. A lot of gay men get my thing for shoes. I have definite feminine qualities and a lot of gay men are incredibly masculine. A lot of people say I seem masculine, but I don't feel it. I feel intrinsically feminine. I'd love to be one of the boys but I always felt a bit on the outside. Maybe my masculine qualities come from overcompensating because I'm not one of the boys."

"

from HuffPost (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/inception-star-tom-hardy_n_662907.html)

Like our first news item, this one's a mixed bag. He seems to be over a gay 'phase', but unlike 90% of actors (and all of straight America) he's honest about his attractions.

He claims he's happy, but his wife better watch her got damn back!

God Forbid.

cox out, No Homo.

my Uneducation

Pilgrims.

I haven't been a vigilant blogger; my job is exhausting. I am a canvasser, which means I stand around strip malls hoping I can get people to add 'gay marriage' to their predetermined shopping lists. I've been successful, but it's been hard in a variety of ways.

I do work with amazing people who make me feel like a peasant every day, mostly because I've only been "out" for a year and am new to gay rights/gender studies. One of my co-workers has been an activist for years and helped me with a new idea -- much of what I need to undergo is 'uneducation'. As a twenty-two year old I've been "educated" by school, the media, my peers, etc... and especially when it comes to being gay these educations have created mental hang-ups.

It is as important to uneducate as it is to be curious; to question "what we know". I've 'known' this but it's hard to practice.

Do I sound like a jackass? Anyway, I'm a lucky duck, most significantly because it's True Blood season, and, to the joy of many of the people I encounter working for gay rights, I've finally found Jesus!

one, two, buckle my shoe.

cox out, no homo