Gay Marriage Ban – Equality Must Happen

-In an election otherwise full of liberal triumphs, the gay rights movement suffered a stunning defeat as California voters approved a ban on same-sex marriages that overrides a recent court decision legalizing them.

The constitutional amendment—widely seen as the most momentous of the nation’s 153 ballot measures—will limit marriage to heterosexual couples, the first time such a vote has taken place in a state where gay unions are legal.

Gay-rights activists had a rough election elsewhere as well. Ban-gay-marriage amendments were approved in Arizona and Florida, and Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents. Supporters made clear that gays and lesbians were their main target.

In California, with 95 percent of precincts reporting as of this mid-day, the ban had 5,125,752 votes, or 52 percent, while there were 4,725,313 votes, or 48 percent, opposed.

My only parting thought is this:

When will we as gay men, be able to vote on heterosexual marriages?

The hope for equality among all gay men can never be extinguished, however hard our opponents may try.

-Until next time…

Obama’s Inclusive Election

-His opening words, as President elect of the United States of America to a crowd of over 125,000 at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois were:

“Young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans have sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of red states and blue states,” he said. “We have been and always will be the United States of America.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America,” he said to a long roar.

What an historic evening it was to watch the results pour in to MSNBC from all across our nation, and to realize that for the first time in our history as a nation – an African American man would lead us into a change.

-Good morning everyone and welcome to our blog … this is the day after, an historic American election.

-Out in our back yard this morning we have cloudy conditions with a warm almost mild 52 degrees. Color weather radar at this early hour shows scattered rain all across Minnesota.

Today’s northland weather forecast for our corner of the world is:

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs 55 to 60. South winds 10 to 15 mph becoming east 5 to 10 mph late in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

It’s looking kind of moist outside and will be for the entire day.

-Needless to say, I don’t have to go through the details with you … but we have a new President elect in this country – and as an American voter – I could not be more proud. I listened to those words of President elect Obama “…gay…change has come to America,” and my heart was filled with joy.

I know he won’t be able to fix everything, and he’s not a miracle worker – but in this new President I think many American’s finally see “hope” for a better tomorrow, and for a better nation.

In many locations around the world … throngs crowded before TVs or listened to blaring radios for the latest updates. In Sydney, Australians filled a hotel ballroom; in Rio, Brazilians partied on the beach. In the town of Obama in Japan, dancers cheered in delight when their namesake’s victory was declared.

Observers — many in countries where the idea of a minority being elected leader is unthinkable — expressed amazement and satisfaction that the United States could overcome centuries of racial strife an elect an African-American as president.

After a victory of historic significance, Barack Obama will inherit problems of historic proportions. Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated at the depths of the Great Depression in 1933 has a new president been confronted with the challenges Obama will face as he starts his presidency.

At home, Obama must revive an economy experiencing some of the worst shocks in more than half a century. Abroad, he has pledged to end the war in Iraq and defeat al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. He ran on a platform to change the country and its politics. Now he must begin to spell out exactly how.

Obama’s winning percentage appears likely to be the largest of any Democrat since Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide and makes him the first since Jimmy Carter in 1976 to garner more than 50.1 percent. Like Johnson, he will govern with sizable congressional majorities. Democrats gained at least five seats in the Senate and looked to add significantly to their strength in the House.

Truly, yesterday was a day of change for America.

-Here in Minnesota the hotly contested senatorial race had both candidates with 42% of the vote, however; Coleman was leading that number by only 1,015 votes.

There will definitely be a recount in that senatorial race.

-Finally this morning, for Steve and I – as two gay men, Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, the culmination of a historic, barrier-breaking campaign whose promise of change generated a groundswell at the polls. In the process, Obama may have changed American politics for good — and, we hope, for the better.

One thing I can say for certain, it was an inclusive campaign that engaged Americans in big numbers…made up of “young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled…”

Steve and I were part of that historic day … what a honor it was!

May this be the first day of new change in America, change that will see equality for gay men and inclusion of everyone in this great country.  We feel so much hope.  We feel so much pride.  For the first time, in many years – Steve and I both have hope.

-Until next time…