Captain's Log

Civil Unions v. Marriage

We have carried the responsibilities of same-sex love with us for a long time.  The rights, however, have rested with a few: the states of Massachusetts and Vermont, the mayor of San Francisco, the Connecticut Supreme Court, N.Y Governor David Patterson, the California Supreme Court, and the voters of California.  That list includes only the significant players in this debate, as was there any doubt that Florida and Arizona would be the latest to attempt to 'define' marriage on their own terms?

Now that Proposition 8 has passed in California, however, it is time for the LGBT community to take a more proactive approach and less defensive stance.  It is time we teach America what we have known for a long time: that love and commitment are much more than the word marriage can convey, the sanctity of love trumps the sanctity of a marriage license, and that love is blind and does not categorize by gender.

There are many aspects of this approach to consider, but it starts with separating the civil aspects of marriage, the social connotations of the word, and the real definition of the word 'marriage.'

With the separation of church and state enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, there is but one way to go: Civil Unions.  I care not if the religious right want to keep the word marriage - it's never been one of my favorite words anyhow - just give same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples. 

Make those wishing to make a legal commitment recognized by the state and federal government get a civil union, and then any couple can head to their place of worship to have their union 'sanctified.'  The church can even throw in the phrase "I now pronounce you man and wife" and produce a marriage certificate - yet one that has no legal standing.

Then everyone gets treated equally under the rule of law, and everyone gets to choose how they wish to honor their love and commitment.

Seems like a basic American civics class to me.  Respectful of everyone's beliefs, and allows both same-sex and opposite-sex partners to enter into either or both the legal and religious aspects of their love and commitment.

 

Hillary Clinton in an Obama Administration

With Senator Hillary Clinton swinging by the Obama transition office in Chicago yesterday, it is becoming increasingly clear what role she should play in the future of the nation.

Enact Universal Health Care.

As for her position, she would NOT make a good secretary of state, nor would Senator John Kerry.  For one, she'd be bored rather soon, and Kerry would be just basically boring in general.  Does he know how to put a verb and a period in a sentence yet?  And to have his gibberish translated into multiple languages, well that would just be a nightmare.  He can't even talk 'Southern' - much less pure and simple English.

Hillary, here's one for you:  Secretary of Health and Human Services, or lead the way towards Universal Health Care in the Senate.  But - here's the catch - you have to pick one.  My advice: pick the one that will be more effective in your two causes, which are interrelated: women's issues and healthcare. 

You lost the presidency, but you can still find a way to enact your signature legislation, and then it's onto the Supreme Court.

Seems an easy choice.  But - here's the catch - you have to choose.  And you get to.

001 v. 009

Washington, DC

Living in our nation's capital has its privileges and rewards, as well as its drawbacks.  It's a tourist town, the capital of the United States, mapped out with circles, squares and grids and built on a swamp -- but significantly one also filled with politicians, lawyers, writers and lobbyists from across America, which leaves it to the winds of change. 

And yet it is filled with monuments to our nation's leaders, from the founding of the United States of America to the present day - the concrete that keeps the United States united.  A paradox.

I've lived here for 8 years now, due to both circumstance and serendipity.  When I moved here in 2000, I hated the town of Washington, for many reasons.  Bush v. Gore had just been decided, and the entire Washington region had realigned, to my dismay.

Through the years, I have found 'defensive' mechanisms to ensure that I could still be me.  But, with people from San Francisco to Kansas, the city takes up a personality of those in power.  A native Virginian with a definite California style, I felt a dismal feeling across the region I had just moved to.

Until November 4th, 2008, the election of Barack Obama, and an increase in the Democratic majority in Congress.

Washington is changing all right.  Every state in the union sends people to represent them our way, meaning into D.C. - all the while decrying the nation's capital.  I'd say go screw yourselves, but it would be a worthless endeavor as we don't have any voice in the Congress.  Something I'll come back to at a later date.

For as long as I've lived here (2000), people on the sidewalks of Washington have been cold and impersonal.  Since the election, however, people you do not know on the street are actually smiling and looking you in the eye.  And even saying hello!

A sea-change of human behavior, brought on by the election of Barack Obama and a significant increase in the Democratic majority in Congress.  America is changing - as is the world - a welcome change from the Bush II years.  It seems easier to simply breathe walking down the street, and - as a gay legally domestic partnered male and feeling like we are not somewhere in Kansas - it is now worth the effort. 

There's been a tectonic shift in how the region looks at itself, and how America and the world looks at Washington. From white to black, gay to straight, federal employee to contractor, and all those involved in living in our nation's capital; the feeling of optimism has replaced the politics of fear on the sidewalks of Washington, DC. 

Sing Halleluhiah~!  Everyone is waiting for January 20th, 2009.  With a lot of excitement, a bit of trepidation, and a lot of enthusiasm about the future.  Cue 'Love is in the Air.'

It's going to be tough, but there's a feeling of optimism and a smile on many faces.  Change has come to Washington, and Washington gets to change. 

Don't forget to breathe...it's a good thing.  We won, it's time to relax and celebrate.  And it can't come a moment too soon.  Now the hard work begins.  But it's worth it.