Love Wins!

Victory!!! I'm ecstatic and overwhelmed. I'm still trying to figure out how this affects couples like my husband and I who are legally married but live in states like Florida that don't recognize that marriage. The more narrow Prop 8 non-ruling suggests that we may now be considered married at the Federal level, yet not at the state level.

I'd be eager to hear any opinions on that.

At any rate this is an extremely important victory but there's still work to be done. I'm popping the Champagne as we speak so I'll leave you all with the words of someone who's been fighting for human rights longer than I, the unflappable Mr. George Takei. FYI George will be in Miami in early July for Supercon!

Today marks a watershed moment in history and a tremendous victory for the principle of equality. The 5-4 decision by our Supreme Court striking down DOMA affirms the universality of love--the desire of all people not only to find, but to value and affirm, a lifelong commitment to another person. I have lived nearly four score years, and have borne witness to both the heartbreak and promise of true justice and equality in America. Today my heart soars, and my faith in the promise of our great nation is renewed. Now, if there's anything we gays know how to do well, it is to celebrate! Let the joy of this day ring out with PRIDE.

UPDATE: The full text here. United States v. Windsor

Gay Day!

I can't say that I was awake all night wondering what was coming down the pipe from SCOTUS today. Good sex makes for good sleep. But after a little coffee I'm now sufficiently on edge. I began my gay rights activism over 20 years ago and I've had two primary focuses ~ the military ban on gays and the glaring marriage inequality. One down, one to go.

Whatever the court decides today, the battle for human rights is not yet over. So long as the rights of any group are diminished, all humanity suffers. While I hope for a big step forward today, I'm troubled by the step backwards that we took yesterday. I have friends who waited 8 hours to vote in the last election. Surprise, they lived in minority neighborhoods. Those who think that racism is fixed because we have a black president are as naive as are those who believe homophobia will end when LGBTQ folks have legal equality. Justice is not a light switch. It's slow and painful, and it takes generations.

Racism, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance all stem from the same defective thinking, and even if I get mine today I wont be happy until everyone gets theirs. Given the level of injustice in the world, I guess that means on some level that I'll never be completely happy. And that's OK. At least the sex is great!

Finally!

Hey folks, I'll be here tomorrow @10 as 9 people in odd robes a thousand miles away tell my husband and I whether or not we can finally take that head of household tax deduction. Anything short of a sweeping ruling one way or the other is going to produce a lot of conflicts. Some are sure to be happy, others sure to be pissed.

I'd serve cake and cocktails but for this primitive internet.