Thank-you for voting Yes on Question 1 and upholding marriage equality for all people, regardless of who they love! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, a thousand times over, THANK-YOU! We made history tonight!
Archive for the ‘GLBT Rights’ Category
Thank-You
Wednesday, November 7th, 2012Four More Years
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012My faith in Americans has been restored. Obama has been re-elected. Democrat Claire McCaskill defeated “legitimate rape” Todd Akin. The Democrats seem to have maintained control of the Senate. Here in Maine, former Governor Angus King has won the Senate seat. As of my writing this, only 45% of Maine precincts have reported, though the YES on 1 vote is leading by about 2%. No matter the outcome of Maine’s Question 1, we now have, for the first time in history, a president who openly supports same-sex marriage. Obama’s next four years will no doubt bring new liberal-minded Supreme Court justice appointments, an end to DOMA, and federal / nationwide marriage equality. I also expect that Obama will ensure the passage of ENDA and SNDA. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is surely safe now, as are the reproductive rights of women and universal healthcare. It is a happy day in America!
I just returned home early this morning after a three-week vacation in Florida and the Florida Keys. I have a lot of photos and video, and other cool things to share, but I’ll wait until after the election is final. I’ll follow-up tomorrow night or the next day with Florida stuff, but suffice to say I had an awesome trip! I voted by absentee prior to leaving last month. I voted for Obama in 2008 and I voted for him again last month. I had some concerns about the election, but it seems those concerns have now passed as both CNN and Fox News have declared Obama the winner. I hope that Obama’s second term will also bring with it the last breath of the horribly corrupt Tea Party.
YES on 1
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012Voting is coming up soon, with only a couple weeks left to make a decision. I already voted by absentee ballot because I’m currently away on vacation with my family. Before leaving, we reconstructed and repainted our giant marriage equality sign from 2009. Look for it on route 1 in Belfast, near Dairy Queen / EBS / Circle K / Pizza Hut.
The consensus from last night’s debate seems to be that Obama won, which gives him 2 out of 3. For the first time in history we have a president who is openly in favor of marriage equality. Three other states besides Maine will be voting on this issue in November. Prop 8 and DOMA are both in the high courts and I expect the US Supreme Court will rule on nationwide / Federal marriage rights within the next year or two. That will no doubt have a blanket effect akin to Loving v. Virginia, but it would still be symbolic if Maine were the first state to legalize same-sex marriage via popular vote.
If you are a Mainer or live in one of other three states that will be voting on this issue next month, I hope you will vote in favor of equality. Marriage equality will not affect anyone except the already existing families that wish to have civil recognition under state law. This won’t have any impact on churches or other individual freedoms – in fact, the law actually protects religious freedom by specifically stating that no organization, entity, or individual will ever be forced to perform a marriage ceremony if such a ceremony would conflict with their religious beliefs. Please Vote YES on 1.
London 2012
Monday, August 13th, 2012The London Olympics were amazing this year. A few weeks before they started, one of my mom’s best friends and former English exchange student living with her in high school, came to visit us for a couple days. She’s an editor for a major television network in London, so she told us a lot about some of the behind-the-scenes stuff and filming. She wants us to come visit her next time, which would be pretty cool. I wish I could have seen the Olympics in person.
I’m watching the closing right now. The Spice Girls were awesome. I was so excited to see them together again at the 2012 Olympics, following their reunion concert a couple years back. They look great. Ginger’s always been my favorite.
I watched a lot of the archery because that’s become a new hobby of mine, along with scuba diving and rollerblading, and I love it! I go out to the range I set up and shoot several times a week. It’s a very addictive sport.
England is much more progressive than the United States. I was happy to see that there were many GLBT-friendly recognitions at the 2012 Olympics this year, such as celebrity appearances and respects to those past, like Freddie Mercury. I think it’s very important that GLBT people have a place and recognition in the Olympics. Wikipedia has a list of GLBT sports people, and here’s a more specific list of out GLBT Olympians. I know some had hoped that a few Olympians from countries that criminalize homosexuality, would come out at the Olympics and seek asylum in London.
Matthew Mitcham, a 24-year-old Australian diver, is of course one of the best known out gay Olympians. He’s pretty cute, but I have to say, the English diver, Tom Daley, has already stolen my heart, hehe.
Daley apparently hasn’t indicated whether he is gay or straight, but either way he’s super cute! He has been targeted by a couple people, including a teen and a 28yo who made an anti-gay comment about Daley on Twitter. Both individuals live in the UK and have been criminally charged for their homophobic tweets. I hope that we’ll soon have similar cyberbullying laws in the United States in the coming years. Ignorant religious fundamentalists know their time is running out here in the USA and elsewhere in the world. My little sister’s generation already views them the way most adults now view the KKK and other hate groups. Anyway, here’s some cute pics of Tom Daley <3. Click the photos if you want to see a larger version ;)
Pride 2012
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012Some of the photos from Portland Pride 2012 were just published. I had a great time, especially at the dance and after party at Styxx that went until 3am. I spent most of the evening with some of my friends – we got Bubble Tea at Bubble Maineia, my favorite! There are so many photos of the event online, I’m just going to leave you with my photos in a Google+ album, the link to the Maine LIFE Events Facebook Albums, and a few photos from the Maine LIFE dance that went until 1am. It got pretty wild in there and I some guys were dancing in their underwear. Last time I did that at Styxx, the owner offered me a job as a gogo boy, lol. Hmmm…maybe when I move to Florida, hehe. While it’s nowhere near as big as Portland Pride, I’m excited for Bangor Pride this Saturday, too.
My album: Portland Maine Pride 2012
Maine LIFE Events Facebook Album
Some photos from the Maine LIFE Dance:
