Fantastic No On Prop 8 ad

Based on the Mac/PC ads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU4udzEbcdQ

No on Prop 8

My birthday is next month, and I couldn't think of a better present than a big old FAIL of Proposition 8, the article on the California state ballot that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. What a bunch of BS. It makes me furious when I think about it, for myriad reasons.

The main reason is that I believe in treating people equally, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. How is telling two gay men they can't get married any different than telling a black person that he/she can't marry a white person? Answer: it's no different.

I suppose proponents of Prop. 8 would argue that the bible says homosexuality is a sin. However, the United States (supposedly) separates church and state. Passing a law based on a group's religious beliefs is, well, BS. I don't need someone else's religion forced on me, ever. And I believe that the churches who are so actively politically campaigning against gay marriage should have their tax exempt statuses removed. Again: Separation of church and state, people.

But, religion aside, what really baffles me is the argument that if you're for gay marriage, you're against "traditional" marriage. WTF? How is that logical in any way? I'm for any type of marriage! Marriage is great, and it's also hard, and as an aside to that, I think we can attribute the high rate of divorces directly to the heterosexual parties involved and not one iota to the gay community. I fail to see how allowing a group of human beings some basic human rights threatens the rights of another group. I just can't make the connection. Maybe the Prop. 8 supporters are worried the gays will reserve all the good wedding venues? The caterers? The florists?

My codancer (who's getting married as well, early next year) officiated a wedding between two men recently and she said that they wrote beautiful letters about their relationship and read them to each other at the start of the ceremony with confidence and calm, nary a tear in sight. It was when she read the traditional ceremony to them after that (they had requested that she incorporate the "traditional" vows) that they started to cry. Later she said she realized they probably thought they'd never hear those words: "in sickness and health, for richer or poorer..." And that makes me want to cry.

Anyway, kudos to companies like Google and Apple and also to SF Mayor Gavin Newsom (whatever his other faults) for not bowing to the pressure of religious groups, and for supporting what's right: equality. That's what this country's supposed to be about, right?

Pride

SF's Gay Pride Parade is this weekend, and with the recent marriage law change I imagine many, many couples will be traveling to the Bay Area. Which is fantastic, but remind me to take BART this weekend instead of driving!!

On the radio this morning one of the members of Dykes on Bikes, the awesome group that opens the parade every year, announced that their scooter contingent is going to be dressed up as bridesmaids for the parade. I love that!

Wedding Photography Giveaway!

I found this via WeddingBee and thought it was too good not to share. Jessamyn Harris is giving away free wedding photography to one lucky same-sex couple getting married this summer at San Francisco City Hall (or Santa Rosa)! Visit her blog for details.

Hooray, free stuff!

Equality

I got a little teary this morning when I saw the front cover of the Chronicle, featuring the picture above.

From SF Gate:

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon made history - again - at 5:07 p.m. Monday when they were declared "spouses for life."

At that moment, standing next to each other in the mayor's office in San Francisco City Hall in front of cheering friends and relatives, the couple of 55 years became the first same-sex newlyweds in San Francisco and among the first in California under a new right bestowed by the state Supreme Court.

"And it feels great," said Lyon, 83.

It was a little more than four years ago that Lyon and Martin were the first to wed after Mayor Gavin Newsom sanctioned same-sex weddings. About 4,000 gay and lesbian couples took the plunge, but the California Supreme Court later ruled those weddings legally invalid because Newsom acted without proper authority.

This time around, Martin and Lyon were once again San Francisco's first same-sex couple to get married - only this time, it was legal.

"I never thought it would happen in our lifetime," said Arlene Rusche, 68, a friend of the couple.

I love that the mayor officiated. What a momentous step for human rights. It's so exciting to see it all happening at last.

One of the bloggers on Weddingbee compared it to Loving Day, the anniversary of which recently passed, ironically--June really is the month of all things wedding, isn't it? Loving Day is the celebration of the 1967 Supreme Court ruling that interracial couples were legally allowed to marry. The blogger noted that 40 years ago, she wouldn't have been able to marry her fiancee, who is Chinese (she is white). I can't imagine loving someone and not being legally allowed to marry them. How awful.

I know we have a long road to travel (California is just one state, after all), but this makes me very hopeful.

Congratulations to all of the couples getting married this week, but especially to Del and Phyllis.