New York for Marriage Equality

A Marriage Equality vote is going to the State Senate soon - likely next week - as they try to catch up with DC's enlightened ways.  It's close, but it looks like it's just one vote away from passing, and that Senator remains undecided.  And in getting to that threshold, recently, Republican State Senator, Roy McDonald crossed party lines to state he planned to vote for it.   He was quoted as saying:

"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing.

"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing."  

Way to go, Mc Donald.  Here's to evolving.  Her's to not seeing life in black and white.  Here's to doing the right thing.  And while, I'm at it, here's to TMZ.com, the celebrity gossip site for covering it and standing on the side of love.

Take this evilsayers...

Here's one of those feel-good stories when all that evil hate is deflected to good. Lisa Lampanelli * told the nasty homophobic Westboro Baptist Church that for every one of their protesters at her KS show she would donate $1000 to a gay charity.

Now, Gay Men's Health Crisis (NY) is $50k richer.


* Who is she? Not sure, but she must be famous-ish because I found this story on the celebrity gossip blog TMZ.com, that I indulge in on a regular basis despite having no idea who they are talking about.

I Have a Dream

Photo cribbed from the Internet

In observance of MLK day last week, the fourth graders at Watkins Elementary School - the DC public school where Dear Daughter is a 1st grader - recited King's famous "I Have a Dream Speech"on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. This is the seventh year they have done so, and this year it was prominently featured in the media.  Here is the amazing slide show of photos taken by my friend, neighbor, and fellow school parent, KJ.

The slide show is quite remarkable, as it captures the dream *somewhat* realized almost 50 years later.  A reality where African-American and European-American kids go to school together.  They are classmates, teammates, and *sometimes* actual friends.  These school kids don't know it any other way.

Dear Daughter's school is somewhat of an anomaly in DC, in the DC metro area, and in the country as a whole.  Its demographics are a fascinating socioeconomic study in itself - 64% Black, 30% white, 3% Asian/Pacific, 2% Hispanic.  That ethnic diversity is hard to find anywhere. Twenty-nine percent are eligible for free or reduced lunch  - it's unusual, and I think quite remarkable, to have this mix of economic strata.

Watkins School's reading and math proficiency scores don't knock your socks off - hovering around 60%  and 65% in  math and reading testing proficiency respectively.  This is respectable, if not still totally unacceptable, in light of its demographic and socioeconomic context.  

So-called thriving DC public elementary schools in Upper Northwest - aka, Upper Northwhite or Upper Cupcake - tell a different story...

"It Gets Better"...Bullying, hate, privacy, the Internet and hope in the 21st Century

I am utterly sickened by the news that a 18yo, freshman college student and musician, Tyler Clementi, took his own life by jumping off the George Washington bridge after his idiot roommate webcammed and webcast his intimate encounters with another man.  It seems that roommate, Dharun Ravi, and another classmate, Molly Wei, got their kicks from capturing, streaming, and broadcasting Clementi's personal, private, sexual life without permission.  And Clementi, ultimately decided that the mortification was too much too handle, and well, jumped...

Ravi and Wei's thoughtless act clearly illustrates blatant bullying, extreme homophobia, and a tremendous violation of privacy rights.  Many want to prosecute their act as a hate crime - and while I realize this is likely a strong interpretation of the laws - I can't help but believe their utter disregard for another being's dignity led to his suicide.  And yes, they should be fully prosecuted, punished, and suffer long and hard for their heinous behaviors. Some say they are young, and naive...but at what time, if ever, are young people accountable for basic respect and civility of other human beings?  They are of age, after all.

I suppose I'm equally troubled by the technology of webcam's remote surveillance and  the World. Wide.Web. streaming that allows this to happen so easily; the erosion of privacy in today's society (I, too have given over my privacy in this social networked world; though I have profound respect for the right to privacy, and the critical ability of one to have agency over one's own privacy); and the magnitude of web posting in perpetuity.  This is the profoundly evil side of of the advancements of social networks and digital technology.

Ironically, this suicide happened on the second day of Rutgers University campaign "Project Civility" which would "involve panel discussions, lectures, workshops and other events to raise awareness about the importance of respect, compassion and courtesy in everyday interactions.  Events scheduled for this fall include a workshop for students and administrators on residential life on campus and a panel discussion titled 'Uncivil Gadgets? Changing Technologies and Civil Behavior.'"

Sadly, this bigoted, technology-enabled behavior is not limited to young college students.  It is also  an affliction of our public servants.

Stand on the Side of Love (5)

Today a historic wedding took place at All Souls Church!

Stand on the Side of Love (4)

It may be cloudy, raining, damp, and cold, but...

Today is a beautiful day here in Washington, DC!

Stand on the Side of Love (3)

Woo hoo!

Dear Friends,

I've just been informed that the Mayor has chosen All Souls Church as the venue for tomorrow's signing of DC's Marriage Equality Bill.  It is both an honor and a privilege for our church to host such an historic event, and it is testament to the hard work that so many in our congregation have devoted to the passage of this bill.

The bill signing is open to the public, so you are all welcome to attend.  It will take place at 10:45 am in the Sanctuary.

In fact, we invite you to come early, put on a "Standing on the Side of Love" t-shirt, and proudly welcome people to your church.

Love,
ROB

Stand on the Side of Love (2)

I could post the news link from the Washington Post, but it is more meaningful to me to share this from the point of view of my church, All Souls Unitarian, and its amazing pastor, Rev. Rob Hardies.

Dear Friends, Just moments ago, the DC Council took an historic stand for love. By an 11-2 margin, Council Members voted to legalize marriage for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Marriage equality is coming to the nation's capital! It was thrilling to be present in the Council chambers as history was being made. When the vote was announced, people shouted and wept for joy. Friends, this is what it feels like to stand on the side of love. I am so heartened by the role our congregation has played in this important human rights struggle. All Souls members and ministers took a leading role in founding a coalition of nearly 200 DC clergy who supported the bill. We contributed money, marched on the Mall, called our Council Members, and talked with our neighbors. We helped change hearts and minds. And not only have we secured passage of the bill, we have changed the national debate on marriage equality. We've shown that this issue can unite communities rather than divide them. People of all ages, races, creeds and cultures can stand together on the side of love. I want to thank all of you for helping make this day possible. Of course, the struggle for marriage equality in DC is not over yet. After Mayor Adrian Fenty signs the bill, the United States Congress has 30 legislative days to veto it. We hope that Congress will respect the sovereignty of the elected leaders of the District of Columbia and allow this bill to become law. When it does, then we will know the real reason we've labored so hard. Then, every loving couple in our congregation will be equal not only in God's eyes, but in the eyes of the state. Thank you again. Love, ROB

Stand on the Side of Love

DC Council gets it right!  I think marriage equality is one of the most important issues of our time.  Various state referendums indicate that gay marriage can't win a popular vote, which leaves me incredulous (tho' I suppose it shouldn't).  I'm a romantic optimist here, albeit an impatient and pragmatic one, that one day love will prevail.