More wedding appointments

Next weekend we're headed to Santa Cruz once again to take care of some exciting (to me) wedding-related tasks.

We're meeting with an officiant - I realized I better take care of that since that's the one thing you actually 100% need to get married! I really like her from talking on the phone. She seems cool and like we'll get along great, which I think is important. I want her to genuinely be able to say something nice about us at our wedding ceremony, and have a personal connection.

I also tried to meet with another woman who I thought I liked, but she must not want our business. After some phone tag and emails back and forth, I said "Let's meet Saturday at 9 a.m. What's a good location to meet?" No response... ever... kind of unprofessional.

James and I agreed that our ceremony will be secular (like us) and our officiant must be willing to perform same-sex ceremonies. I know to some people it seems silly since we're not a same-sex couple, but it's a very important matter of principle to both of us. We don't want to give our money or trust our ceremony to someone who does not believe in equal rights as we do. Finding an officiant who met these requirements wasn't hard at all.

And, since we're in town, we also made some cake tasting appointments (free cake!). I'm bringing these photos to give them an idea of what we want:

Source

We'll also visit our ceremony site to scope out some details like parking (while enjoying the view). Have you seen the view? So excited that we're getting married here!

We'll also eat lunch at our reception site most likely. It should be a fun, busy Saturday!

Proposition 8 Ruling - Tuesday, May 26

As I mentioned last week, the California Supreme Court will soon announce their decision regarding Proposition 8. Today we learned that the decision will come this coming Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m. Equality California will announce the decision immediately on their Twitter and Facebook pages. On Tuesday night, we will gather in response to the decision. Click here to find an event in your area.

Decision Day is coming!

The California Supreme Court will soon announce its decision on the legality of Proposition 8, hopefully restoring the right of marriage to all Californians. As of tonight, we know that there are four dates on which the decision may be announced:

Thursday, May 21
Tuesday, May 26
Thursday, May 28
Monday, June 1

No matter what the court rules on D-Day, the community will gather to either continue the fight for civil rights, or hopefully party!

On the day the decision is announced, a community rally will be held at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (1927 L St.) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 20th St. will be closed between K and L Streets.

If Proposition 8 is upheld:
Following the rally, a march will proceed from the Center to the West steps of the state capitol.

If Proposition 8 is overturned:
Streets will remained closed for the evening and entertainment will be provided while we celebrate equal civil rights for all!

Meet in the Middle:
On the Saturday after D-Day, activists from across the state will meet in Fresno. Fresno represents the many rural communities that largely supported Proposition 8 last year. We have to reach out to these Californians in order to exceed 51% voter approval of same sex marriage. The Meet in the Middle rally will begin at 1 p.m. at Fresno City Hall.

Raise awareness for gay marriage rights

This message was sent to me by Equality California. It's an easy way for anyone to participate in the fight for marriage equality. Make sure your ads run on Sunday, May 3!

SOMETHING YOU CAN DO: Want to get the same-sex marriage issue back in the media in a positive way? Want to make a memorable statement in a way that’s never been done before?

DO SOMETHING: Join us in taking over statewide newspapers on Sunday, May 3rd!

WHO: The LGBT community and their allies

WHAT: Taking over statewide classifieds in the CA newspapers

WHEN: The ads will need to be in the May 3rd paper, so make sure you submit yours with enough time to meet the deadline. Make sure your ad is not printed early!

WHERE: All publications in CA that have classifieds

HOW: We need as many people as possible to submit marriage equality classified or personal ads to publications in CA. Be as creative as you can, but make sure it is obvious you are talking about marriage equality. If you can submit multiple ads or hit numerous publications, please do so. We want to make sure no one will miss our ads, so the more that are submitted the better. If you want to submit half page or full page adds, please do that as well. If you can write in a foreign language, please consider submitting ads in newspapers that are published in different languages.

WHY: Classifieds are read by numerous people across the state. This is our chance to reach out to people in a humorous, non-confrontational way that will be remembered. While protests are great, they can’t be the only way we fight back. In order to keep our issue in the media, we will need to be more creative.

SAMPLE ADS

LOST AND FOUND
Lost - my right to marry the person I love. Last seen on November 4th, 2008. If seen, please return to law abiding, taxpaying citizen. It is dearly missed.

FOR SALE
My Rights

FOR SALE
Equal rights for minorities.

WANTED
The right to marry the person I love. If anyone has a right to marry that they are not using, please let me know. This right must be non-revocable and available to all people regardless of their sexual orientation. Please call ASAP if you can help me secure equality for all.

TEMPORARY HOME NEEDED
My right to marry the person I love needs a good home since I am temporarily displaced from my Constitutional Protections. If you know of a place where I can protect my dream to marry him/her until I can get my rights back, please contact me.

PERSONALS
Seeking responsible committed right to visit my spouse in the hospital when I travel out of state, ability to give my social security benefits to my spouse and seeking the 1,138 other federal rights denied my spouse at present . No flakes or substitutes need apply!

Goal #38: Be involved in the fight for gay marriage equality

Last week Rose and I attended March Forth on March Fourth.

Being involved in this movement was one of my 100 goals.This is the second rally I've attended. Of course, I'm not done being involved in the fight for gay marriage equality. I won't be done until the right to marry is granted to all citizens in every state.

Photo from SacBee.com

It's important to me to attend events like this because it personifies how important this issue is, and to how many people. A lot of people have said "Give it up, Prop. 8 passed. It's over." No, it's not over. This is not just a one time issue. Prop. 8 passed, but that was far from the end of this fight.

We can't just give up - this is so much more than any other law or vote. Rights were stolen from thousands of people. Basic human rights that everyone should have access to. It's a right that prisoners have, but gays do not. It's a civil rights outrage.

I continue to support this issue because human decency demands that all Americans be granted equal rights. Attending rallies is important to me because every person who is there shows the public that we care. Thousands of people care and will continue to rally for equality. I am just one person, but my presence at civil rights rallies makes the crowd that much more commanding. We are showing the world that we will not give up until they recognize equal rights.

March forth on March 4

On Thursday, March 5, the California Supreme Court will hear arguments on the validity of Proposition 8, which robbed thousands of Californians of the basic American right to marry.

Candlelight vigils will be held throughout the state on the night before the arguments.

Sacramento’s event will be at the west steps of the state capitol. There will be a rally from 5 – 6 p.m. and a march to the California Supreme Court from 6 – 6:30.

Events will also be held in Bakersfield, Fresno, LA, Modesto, Roseville, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Stockton and Visalia.

Click here for details.

Married

This morning I came across a blog about a wedding. The wedding was in Washington state, and unfortunately the marriage is not legally recognized because it is between two women. I just wanted to post a quote from that blog, because I found it very powerful.

My favorite moment: The declaration of our marriage by our bad-ass celebrant & dear friend, Roxanne.

She took a step forward, puffed her chest and powerfully announced:“By the power unlawfully seized by me in defiance of the State of Washington's laws prohibiting marriage equality, it is my great pleasure to declare you MARRIED!"

It felt like the earth shifted at that moment. It was powerful because of how real the words were to her… it sent a visible wave of chills + joy over the crowd. It literally rocked!

Maybe I was just in a sappy mood, but I totally teared up reading that statement!

Upcoming gay rights events

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

Nationwide rally in protest of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).

DOMA was passed by the Federal Government in 1996, and states

1. No state need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
2. The Federal Government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even is concluded or recognized by one of the states.

I don’t have any Sacramento-specific info yet, but will post it when I do. Rallies will be held at city halls across the country 1:30pm EST/10:30am PST to urge President-Elect Barack Obama to repeal this act.

Here’s the promo for this event:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009
California State Capitol

Speakers, entertainment and thousands of like-minded people – in one spot – join us to put a FACE on the issue of true equality.

Confirmed Appearances by:
Robin Tyler, Long time political and gay activist
Julia Louis-Dryfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Marc Shaiman, Prop 8 the Musical, Hairspray, South Park
Wanda Sykes, Comedian
Deborah Gibson, Singer
George Takei, Star Trek
Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Film Producers - Milk, American Beauty
Melissa Etheridge, singer - will be sending us a video spot
Selene Selene Luna, The Cho Show
...And many more yet to confirm

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
California State Capitol

Love Lobby Day at the state capitol - if you can stay and lobby our representatives there will be a training event then we take on the Capitol. Sponsored by EQCA supported by Equality Action NOW.

On Tuesday, February 17, Equality California, Equality Action NOW, and other partnering organizations to be announced, will co-host a legislative lobby day at the California State Capitol. The purpose of the lobby day will be to urge legislators to support SR 7 (Leno) and HR 5 (Ammiano), companion resolutions in the State Senate and Assembly that would put the Legislature on record as opposing Proposition 8 as an invalid revision to the State Constitution.

The lobby day will bring together diverse community organizations and leaders from across the state for a day of coordinated advocacy and activism. The event is free and open to all. Each participant will receive a lobbying training, advocacy materials, and be assigned to an experienced group leader.

http://equalityactionnow.c.topica.com/maamGt9abM2NXcdojOdbaehuKb/

A civil rights issue

The issue of gay marriage rights is one that I am absolutely passionate about. It’s completely incomprehensible to me why anyone believes that they have the right to tell another person who they may legally marry. I don’t care if it “grosses you out.” We do not create laws based on ickiness factor. I don’t care if your religious book says that it’s an abomination. This is America, and we do not base our laws on religion. If you want a government like that, go to another country. Seriously. Go.

By the way, let’s get some context. The Bible declares homosexuality an abomination with the same ferocity as it bans the consumption of shellfish. If we’re going to strictly interpret every sentence of the bible (and that’s what it is, one sentence), then do it 100%. I have a huge problem with people picking and choosing which parts of the bible apply and which don’t.

Here in America, we also do not prevent two people from marrying due to their inability to reproduce, such as the elderly or infertile. And, The Gay is not even a little bit contagious.

I do not have these views because I have a close relationship with any homosexual, nor because I have experienced this particular discrimination. I have the right to marry the person I choose, because I choose to marry a man. I hold this belief simply because I understand that people do not choose who they love, and to deny anyone the right to legally declare that love is discriminative, archaic and completely un-American.

::whew::

That said, I am on the email list for Equality Action Now, a gay rights group based in Sacramento. I will be posting information on relevant events that they send, in case anyone interested in getting involved happens to stumble across my blog.