So what if you're gay and Mexican in Arizona?

I can't take it. I wish Obama could wield his constitutional axe and get rid of SB1070.
So what if you're gay and Mexican? Does your life become a living hell in Arizona?
So what if you've worked here with a fake social security card for years and had all of those withholding taxes taken out of your check--and you know you can never file for an income tax return? Where is all that dinero? Nobody ever talks about that.
Two of the hardest working and most brilliant young women I know are Mexican and lesbian--illegal immigrants. Under different circumstances they might be CEO's. Here they are maids.
They are well educated. They have studied and learned to speak English. They work harder than anybody I know. They are happier and more positive than most people. They have learned how to stay under the Sheriff Joe Arpaio radar.
We used to have a lot more fun with them. We could ride in the same car, go to lunch, laugh and tell funny stories. Now we hardly ever see them anymore.
That's sad. Arizona has gone backward!

Arizona's a mixed-up melting pot of political goo

Unfortunately, not much is happening in our world of marriage equality pursuit. Is everyone on vacation? Are they too busy chasing Mexicans out of Arizona?
Many gay rights groups are boycotting Arizona because they feel that "SB 1070 essentially declares an entire class of people to be inherently criminal on the basis of their race and appearance."
The chairman of the the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of commerce, voiced his concern because the boycott could hurt their own members.
The Human Rights Campaign feels that SB 1070 has the potential of discriminating against any type of group, including LGBT.
Worst case scenario: What is you were a transgender Mexican dressed as a female and were stopped by Sheriff Joe's crew because your brake light was out (supposedly)??? Ay dios mio!
National news is so busy with SB 1070, it has gone unnoticed that last year Gov. Jan Brewer stripped away earned health insurance benefits from same-sex domestic partners of state employees." What will Jan "brew up" next?
We don't even have state parks or rest stops open anymore (nothing to see and nowhere to pee). It's looking like the "Wild West" again. The guns are loaded with political darts shooting in all directions, and nobody benefits but the politicians.
And here we wait and wait for marriage equality. No doubt, Gov. Jan Brew-up will screw up that too!

'8:The Mormom Proposition' the documentary now in theaters

Though this documentary is designed to expose the fact that the Mormon Church put up $22 million (75% of the total) to defeat marriage equality in California, the underlying story is even more disturbing--that gays are not accepted by their Mormon families.
Most of these gays are "former" Mormons now. And, sadly, they have to live underground because their families don't want them. And to make matters worse, they have a staggering suicide rate among these gay individuals. That is shameful.
How can a religion that claims family values as their core denounce their own and then go against separation of church and state with underground financial support for such a discriminatory proposition? This should never have happened.
I haven't had the opportunity to see the documentary yet, because I'm up in the high mountains of Arizona where there are no theaters or other city amenities--just pine trees and elk and peace and quiet (and probably some Mormons).
I intend to see it, and expect it to be very upsetting.

Overturn Proposition 8

Judge Walker is about to make the decision on overturning Proposition 8!
We all know that marriage is a basic and fundamental civil right. Your voice can be heard by going to The American Foundation for Equal Rights web site at www.equalrightsfoundation.org and signing up for the updates.
Also, text "Equal" to 69866. I just did.
Overturning Proposition 8 would be another huge step toward marriage equality.
Your support is important.

Gay Guilt

So what about parents who play the guilt game by blaming one another for their child being gay?
"You babied him too much," the father says.
"You never played sports with him," the mother says.
"You got her involved in too many sports," the mother says.
"Well, you are such a feminist, this is what you did to her," the father says.
It goes on and on.
Is it necessary? Is it stereotypical? Is it part of that nature and nurture theory?
Maybe it's just part of the parental pathway to realization and acceptance.
Why does a gay child have to feel guilty? why do the parents have to feel guilty?
It's all so ridiculous.
Do you agonize or argue over the other genetic attributes of your child?
We should not cast a shadow on our children or ourselves. If we do, then we have something to be guilty about.

Marriage equality is the correct pursuit

As I learn to be an advocate, I am taught by my mentors that I should use the term "marriage equality" in my pursuit for just that--marriage equality. I thank Tim and Louie for correcting me on the proper terminology.
And they are right. Marriage equality is exactly what we are seeking. It is not a separate or different kind of marriage. It is marriage between two people who love and care for one another "til death do us part." Amen. It makes it even more profound and more important for it to become a reality.
Marriage equality takes away all the silly and stupid stereotypes that clog the minds of people and make them categorize marriage. It's so simple--so why is equality so hard!
I am not gay. I don't know what if feels like to be gay. But I sure as hell know what it feels like to be the mother of two gay children. And I want them to have "equality" in every way.
Thank you Tim and Louie for teaching me that marriage equality is the proper terminology for what we seek. It elevates relationships to the proper level.

Our gay children are our first priority

One thing I've learned from gay individuals, whose input has inspired me, is that our job as parents is even more important than we realize. Though I think it is imperative that we parents be the voice of gay marriage, I find that our unconditional love and acceptance is more personally appreciated by our children than our representing them on a political platform toward same-sex marriage.
We still have to be in the battle. We still have to continue to fight for them and represent their needs in society--their rights to equality and their rights to same-sex marriage.
But more than anything, we have to care about them. They are our children. They are our joy.