Amazing isn’t it? That Portland, Oregon is one of the most diverse and affirming cities in the United States but if you leave the city limits and drive just a mere 17 miles out of town; you are in a different world all together.
Unfortunately this issue is not about promoting diversity or tolerance. It’s about tolerating intolerance.
By promoting tolerance and acceptance, this school district is afraid that they will look as though they promote some kind of “alternate lifestyle.”
Please.
This is a public school filled with students who have to deal with this crap every single solitary day. By statistical data, 10% of them are GLBTQ themselves, and some of them even have GLBTQ parents and family members.
This is outrageous and embarrassing that this kind of bigotry has a voice and it’s voice is so prominent.
Tolerance has to begin NOW for ALL people.
Those of you in the Portland Metro area, I hope that you will look at this example of your community and take a stand against injustice. This is not a small matter, this is where hate and intolerance begins and it should be stopped before it grows bigger.
Today HG handed me the opinion section of The Oregonian; in it were two commentaries written of different opinions regarding Oregon’s new anti-discrimination law and Domestic Partnership law.
I knew I would probably not like the one written in opposition, but I read it anyway, and I’m glad I did. I felt as though the opinions that she stated in her commentary were absolute perfect examples of how this very black and white issue is made to look gray.
The contributor, Ms. Marilyn Shannon, claims that the anti-discrimination law (SB 2) is “reverse discrimination.”
Reverse discrimination?
Reverse discrimination is when a group of people not typically discriminated against are discriminated against.
How are white male heterosexuals being discriminated against by implementing a law that prohibits discrimination against a person based on their sexual orientation? How does protecting one group of people hurt another?
She calls it “preferential homosexual rights.” How are gays and lesbians being given “preferential rights” over everyone else in Oregon who already receives those same inherent rights?
Is Ms. Shannon given preferential rights as a woman?
Is she given preferential rights as a religious person?
By her own definition: Yes she is. Preferential rights seem to be fine as long as they work for her and other’s like her, and now she wants to be granted preferential rights as a bigot. She wants to be able to fire someone based on who they love. She wants to be able to not seat someone in a restaurant because she thinks they might be gay.
I wonder how she would feel if she came into a restaurant and someone refused to serve her because they felt that she was ugly? My guess is that she wouldn’t like it very much and guess what? Neither do the people in the GLBTQ community.
She further goes on to say that Oregon’s Domestic Partnership law is marriage disguised as something else. Domestic Partnerships in Oregon are not marriage, and do not provide the same protections that heterosexual couples are legally entitled to. Ms. Shannon claims that Oregon law does not recognize “common law marriages” to heterosexuals who live together. This example is completely irrelevant. If a heterosexual couple wishes to be married, they are provided and allowed this right within our law. Gay and lesbian couples do not have this option to exercise.
The marriage laws, both federal and state, protected me and my children during my marriage, throughout my subsequent divorce, and those laws still offer me protection today.
When I found love again and wanted to re-marry, I found that based on the gender of the person I would like to marry, I do not have the same rights that were once readily afforded to me.
Overnight, I went from a First-Class Citizen to a Second-Class Citizen, based entirely on whom I love.
Ms. Shannon states, “Our rights were stolen from us.”
No, Ms. Shannon. You’re rights are and have been protected. MY rights have been stolen from me, and shame on you and those like you for holding up your thievery as a moral value.
Congratulations to everyone who became Domestically Partnered yesterday! Special wishes go out to my good friends, LeLo and AdRi! We are looking forward to celebrating with you very soon. . .
HG and I are waiting just a little while to register, not because we’re afraid of our rights being taken away, but because of HG’s work schedule. It will be great, I may even skip class that day.
Last night was a celebration that we were unable to attend, which was a bummer, but motherhood occasionally stands in the way of certain things I would like to do. Yesterday motherhood included a basketball game for DD#1, and my taking DD#2 and #3 to see the Hannah Montana movie.
What genius thought of that?
So not only does the girl sell out coliseum sized venues for upwards of $1000.00 a ticket, she then releases a 3D movie of the concert, charging $15.00 bucks a pop that only runs for a week and sells out every show. Pure marketing genius. I wish one of my kids was talented enough to exploit that way.
With the capitalistic, sarcastic comments out of the way, I will say this:
I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the show. The Hannah Montana part was good; the Miley Cyrus part was truly amazing. DD#1 pointed out to me, “Mommy, they’re the same person.” I realize this, but the music was different and her persona was very different. Miley’s music was edgy, rocky, interesting to listen to, her dancing was fab, and she had a little bit of sexiness that was not ewww, she’s a teenager and she’s being sexy (like Brittney at her age.) It was feminine and expressive with just a little something mixed in; a girl beginning to realize that she is in fact a sexual being. I may even download a few of the Miley songs that we don’t already have and burn a CD for my ride to school (a frightening concept for someone who was trying to figure out a way to not go to the show!) I think the young lady will do well–assuming she doesn’t get herself knocked up in the next few years. (That was sexist, she can’t get herself knocked up, some guy will have to participate, him being just as responsible.) Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen, for the guy’s sake for sure; that Billy Ray is kind of a big guy.
Ginger gets her tube out of her butt, and the cone off of her head today. This is a very good thing, as we are all pretty tired of her incessant whining. I do realize that she is probably uncomfortable, but we haven’t had any sleep for three nights, she can’t go outside by herself, she can’t sniff to go potty (the cone is in the way of her sniffing,) and she has to be carried up and down the stairs. It’s actually quite, quite pathetic. I’ll be happy when our fab lesbian vet gives us the thumbs up that she is fixed.
Our other dog, Abby, not so much.
Yesterday I talked to a trainer who will come to the house and do some “dog whisperer” type training with her. They guarantee their training for the life of the dog, which may not be very long if Abby continues to eat entire bottles of Xanex, nail polish, the girl’s stuffed animals, and HG’s toothbrushes. Frankly, we’re tired of buying toothbrushes and I really don’t think that my doctor is going to re-fill my prescription if I use the “really, my dog ate my Xanex” excuse. Uh huh. Sure.
The next step is convincing HG that this training is worth it; but I guess that will depend on what our toothbrush budget is next month.
Well, cheers everyone. I have about twenty five writing assignments to complete between my school and my freelance writing job, all that need started (hopefully completed) before a meeting I have today downtown.
Really sweet and supportive comments and e-mails from caring bloggers and friends all around the world!
Cocktail parties.
Not having plans for SuperBowl Sunday (which I believe is today.)
Maybe having a photo or two published in next month’s Curve magazine.
My wife doing all of the laundry
My super great kids.
My amazing partner.
New Blog Themes.
Apple MacBook.
These Things are Not So Good:
Meetings at Starbucks with your ex-spouse that end with him leaving and the barista coming over and asking, “Are you okay?” Further ending with the lady who was sitting behind you piping in, “I could tell he was a real jerk.”
Having your nose piercing come out, resulting in the jewelry being put back in, resulting in pain.
Emergency vet visits which require a tube and stitches in your dog’s butt.
Overall, I can see that this was a week that the good definitely outweighed the bad; and seriously, I need to be grateful that I’m not the one that has a tube in my butt, (although having Ginger whine and be pathetic all day is quite painful itself.)
Ginger’s tender state is requiring that we sit at home all day to watch over her. Doesn’t that sound awful??? I think we’ll find something to occupy ourselves all day, maybe play a game. Or something.
Happy Sunday!
The first day of a memorable, groundbreaking, celebration filled week for all Oregonians; especially those who will be pledging their love and commitment to each other!
The rain stopped during the rally. DD#1 said that it was because “Mother Nature wants us to win.”
The girls only complained a little, and we were able to see LeLo and AdRi for about two minutes. Sadly, we missed seeing our other blog friends. . .
It was a good rally, good speeches, and lots of people. Oregonians care about equal rights and the turn out tonight reflected this fact, which made my heart happy.
We don’t want anything different than what anyone else has. We want our relationships recognized, we want to be able to take care of our families. Our relationship does not threaten heterosexual marriages; heterosexuals threaten heterosexual marriages. We want to be treated fairly and equally. No more.
I will hold hope in my heart that the judge will allow the domestic partnership law to take effect and grant us the basic fairness that we deserve. I will also hold in my heart that my daughters will grow into adults looking back at this time and chuckle at how ridiculous it was–denying people equality, how absurd. I hope that they will remember standing up for their family and doing what was right for not just their mothers but for all Oregonians.
Thanks to my friend Stacy and her daughter for coming with us tonight. She is a true friend, who despite being much to the right (politically) than me, has always supported and loved me. She’s one of the “right” Christians.
Thank you to my blogging friend who have sent nice words of support and positive energy our way. I realize that many of you live in states where the idea of gaining domestic partnerships may seem like a pipe dream. I promise you, I will do my part every day to stand up for you too. It’s what we all deserve.
Here’s to the Constitution! And Peaceful Demonstration!
Thanks to my nice friends who own a screenprinting/sign-making company and whipped these up for me in no time flat. They rock. (HG added the equality stickers to add a bit of flair!)
If you live in Portland and you care about equality. I expect to see you tonight at the rally.
Hey, even our straight-married-conservative-republican friends are going! If they are going, the rest of you have NO excuse.
Until we all have equal rights-NO ONE has equal rights!
** Oh, and if we get arrested, someone call Limpy. He’s a lawyer, he’ll know what to do. (When he stops laughing that is.)
Yes it’s cold outside. Yes it will probably rain. It’s January in Portland, this is just the way that it is. If you must bring an umbrella, we will make an exception this one time.
We will be there. I will be taking pictures and I ordered signs for the girls to carry; I will turn them into political activists yet!
Whether you are gay or straight, this effects YOU!
Until we all have equal rights, NO one has equal rights!
Would have been the day that HG and I became domestically partnered in our state of Oregon. This picture would have been the one I used for the invitation. The invitation to the cocktail party we were supposed to have. The cocktail party that would have celebrated our special day.
The law, which was supposed to go into effect January 2nd has been halted; devastating same-sex couples throughout the state. Devastating HG and I, and our dream to become legally bound to each other, to protect each other, to take care of each other, to give us some of the same recognition and rights afforded to married heterosexual couples.
HG and I celebrate our anniversary on January 16th. We met in person on that day, almost two years ago; and the memories of that day are precious to us. That day, January 16th was the first day of the rest of our lives, and on the 16th of every month, we remember how precious our relationship is to us. How precious our love and commitment is. That day, IS our anniversary, we don’t even remember the date we actually exchanged rings!
We were ecstatic when the new Domestic Partnership law would go into effect in January. How perfect! We would go to the courthouse on January 16th, exactly two years after that wonderfully fateful day and make it legal.
But now, that dream has been shattered, and it makes me very, very sad.
We may be able to register, after all of this mess is cleared up. We will still be happy to be able to do so, but somehow it just won’t be the same. I have been looking forward to this day since the DP law was passed. I held my breath as the haters tried to get it referred to a ballot measure, I rejoiced when they failed. I planned my party, HG has already taken that day off from work, and here we are; not able to go through as planned.
Imagine a heterosexual couple picking a date, planning a ceremony and a party to get married; then two weeks before, some judge tells them they aren’t worthy enough to get married? It’s not even comprehensible. But we are forced to accept this injustice, this fallacy. It’s sickening.
I married a man and was handed a thousand rights on a silver platter. My marriage failed.
And then, I found true love, with a person who truly loves me back. Our relationship is sweet, and sincere, and real, with a deep connection and love that most people only dream of. We are best friends. We are lovers. We are parents. We are partners in every way.
Why was my crappy relationship to a man held up higher than my amazing relationship with a woman?
How is it that I suddenly became a second class citizen, simply because of who I love?
HG and me. Our beautiful relationship deserves to be regarded with respect and honor, and legally recognized. And so I guess, we wait. For what else are we to do? I suppose anything worth having is worth waiting for, but this? Is heartbreakingly hard.
For more information on this outrageous miscarriage of justice, check out some of these sites:
