Gay Marriage and Earthquakes

I received my "New California Earthquake Policy" a few days ago and actually took the time to read it. I know I'm crazy. But as I was reading the document, it hit home to me just how important marriage is in the event of an earthquake. Term definitions are listed on page one of my "Summary of Changes." Specifically, "Domestic Partnership. Under your new CEA policy, a domestic partner is not defined as an insured."

This is huge. If people think that a domestic partnership conveys all the rights of marriage, think again. So I guess if I'm in a domestic partnership and we own a house together, both of us would have to have our own earthquake insurance to protect us from the big one, or even a smaller one.

On page six of my policy, it says "Insured means you and the following persons if they are permanent residents of your household:
a. your relatives, whether related by blood, marriage or adoption; and b. anyone under the age of 21 who is in the care or custody of you or of any of your relatives who are permanent residents of your household.

I guess if I were in a relationship with someone under 21, then I'd be good. Of course that breaks my five year rule when it comes to relationships as I'm a bit over 30 (quite a bit).

As I'm writing this, Public Enemy is on the radio doing that kick ass song "Fight the Power" from Fear of a Black Planet. I'm waiting for some gay rappers to do a redux called Fear of a Gay Planet.

Getting involved with high level politics

I feel like I'm floundering in the dark, but I'm trying. How about the CEO of the Rodale Institute for Secretary of the USDA?

Discrimination Fallout

When California voters passed Proposition 8 on November 4, it seemed like the issue of marriage equality was dead in California (or at least on ice). But as I've talked to people and read papers and various internet sources, the aftershocks of the vote are shattering old alliances and causing each of us to search our hearts for the path of justice.

From discussions on how people over 60 were some of the key demographics that supported the marriage discrimination initiative to the rumors of Mormons leaving the church after being pressured into donating money towards the Yes on 8 campaign and realizing they didn't believe in discrimination, the aftershocks may ultimately be what brings down the old order. Online boycotts of Prop 8 financial supporters are popping up like mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest and an entire generation of activists have been born in the last two weeks and are doing an amazing job. The next person who talks shit about this country's younger generation is sitting at home with their fingers in their %Rk&*DSFKj.

The latest victim of fallout is the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP. Comparisons have grown between this latest civil rights issue and as some people call it The Civil Rights Movement (of the 1950s and 60s) and the old assumptions of alliances are being challenged. I've heard African American journalist denounce the similarity and others rejoice in it. I joined the San Diego protest on November 15 and listened to speaker after speaker invoke the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a blueprint for this current upwelling.

Apparently the President of the SF chapter of the NAACP was an outspoken opponent of proposition 8 or a support of equal rights for all depending on how confusing you want to be about the verbiage. The chapter's biggest fundraiser is coming up and according to the SF Chronicle, about 25% of planned participants are now boycotting the fund raiser. To compound the tensions, the African American community and the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Queer community include quite a bit of overlap.

The word on the street is to take this discussion to our friends and neighbors, our co-workers and community leaders. Tell everyone you know how discrimination hurts you personally and how it harms the people you love. Share the story of your gay neighbor who cat sits, or your son's lesbian soccer coach. Share the story of the transvestite tennis player you volley with on Sundays and the Republican ex-cop Mayor has a daughter who wants to marry her girlfriend at San Diego City Hall. Make the political personal and put a face on the the people being hurt by classifying their love and their lives as less than.

Each and everyone of us deserves to find love and create a family.

Graduate School Round Three

In 1999 I returned to college to finish my undergraduate degree so I could go to graduate school. Unfortunately, just before I started, my mom had a massive stroke and lost the ability to do much of anything. I decided to put off graduate school for a year or two to help her get back on her feet (literally and metaphorically). In 2006, I realized that waiting for her to get back on her feet, or die, or for me to win the lottery just wasn't going to happen, so I applied to graduate school and left practical thoughts like how to pay for it and where would I find the time to the wind.

Either I'm too old or too dumb or something as I was rejected by all the programs I applied to (a total of three). In the fall of 2007, I quit my job and entered into my own version of graduate school. I took classes in literature, writing, publishing and received a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation to finish my novel. I also attended a three day symposium on The Art of Writing at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California.

My first introduction to depth psychology and creative writing and tending the soul of the world was like seeing my heart outside of my body. I've always known it was there, but seeing it made be want to learn more about it.

The desire for graduate school hasn't gone away either and I'm trying again. This time I'm expanding my horizons. In addition to MFA in Creative Writing programs at UC San Diego and UC Riverside, I'm going to apply to Pacifica. The only problems is there are two programs I'm interested in there: an MA in Engaged Humanities and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies.

My heart wants to apply for the Ph.D., but my brain says the MA would be easier to fit into my life. Either way, there is knowledge and wisdom that I am lacking to help myself and my community in the twenty first century and I'm feeling that an advanced degree will help me shore up my skills a bit in the area of "changing the world" and writing about the amazing people that I admire from the depths of my heart.

Wish me luck.

It Ain't Over 'till It's Over

The campaign of shock and awe that resulted in the passage of California's Proposition 8 (marriage inequality) was just the beginning. Over the weekend, people took to the streets to protest legalized discrimination, and for once, San Diego out protested San Franciscio -- ten to one by some accounts. Now the movement is spreading. Cities all across the United States will be holding rallies for Civil Rights on Saturday, November 15. 10:30 AM Pacific Time, 1:30 PM Eastern Time. Find a location near you at Join The Impact and just say NO to separate but equal.

One Person at a Time

There’s been a growing movement of churches and other mainstream groups engaging in social justice and issues of environmental protection. From the UN Summit for Religious and Spiritual Leaders to the various incarnations of the Social Forums, people of faith have been creating grassroots movements that focus on what we, the people, see as critical issues of social justice, equality, health care and protecting the earth. That’s the beauty of a right wing president who doesn’t understand the web of life or society for that matter – it forces the people to rise up and create a better world.

When Senator Obama stepped onto the world stage, he was riding the wave of thousand of activists with the dream that a better world is possible. Instead of telling people to work for him, he plugged in to swells rippling throughout our society and caught the wave to shore. A few wobbles here and there, but basically a clean ride.

But the shout out goes to all the people organizing on the ground for a future befitting the vision of the American dream. You are my heroes. And a brief word of warning. Just because we elected a Black man as president doesn’t mean we can let up on what we are doing. As Senator Obama said in Grant Park on November 4 "… you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead." So let the celebrations ring out and then let’s get back to our social forums and activist community meetings, our habitat restoration and sharing food with the hungry.

For as someone wise once said, "if the people lead, the leaders will follow." And lead we did, one step at a time, one person at a time. The only way that change is possible.

Peace out!

Tears of joy

Words are useless.
The expression on the Reverend Jesse Jasckon's face last night at Grant Park says it all.
~~ Mitakuye Oyasin!

Election Day & The Credit Crises

Today is election day and the influence of the recent credit meltdown is driving some people to vote for change.

In an ironic twist of fate, many people I spoke with this morning used their credit cards to donate to the campaign of their choice in an attempt to influence the election - myself included. It will probably take me a couple of months to pay off my donations to No on Prop 8, No on Prop 4, No on Prop D, and donations for both presidential candidates of interest to me: Cynthia McKinney and Barak Obama.

It was raining in San Diego when I went to the polls - the rain as unusual as two African American presidential candidates on the ballot. When I entered, two fabulous young people were working the area waving No on Prop 8 signs and passing out info cards. When I exited, the number had grown to 5. It's a close race, but I have hope. I have hope because in the last couple of weeks I have met so many young people putting their feet where their beliefs are. Young people standing up for equal rights. Straight, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender folks united in the quest to guarantee equal rights for all Californians.

I've been doing phone banking for the No on Prop 8 campaign and on Sunday I spoke to a young woman, R.M. Well, R.M., I'm counting on you to beat this proposition. You didn't know anything about the issues when I called, but once you found out, you promised me you would vote No on Prop 8 because you believe in equal rights for everyone. We only need one more vote than the opposition to defeat this ballot and I've put my faith in you. Don't let your children's, children's, children, me or yourself down.

Saving the world, one vote at a time.