Knock knock…

“There is no separation of church and state. Modern U.S. Supreme Courts have raped the Constitution and raped the Christian faith and raped the churches by misinterpreting what the Founders had in mind in the First Amendment to the Constitution.” -Jerry Falwell

Today I woke up in an amazing mood. I got up and fed my cat, did a few dishes and started making my favorite breakfast. I showered and shaved, brushed my teeth, flatironed my hair… and was ready for any amazing morning with Mom and Sheila at the Flea market. It had all the signs of an amazing Saturday.

Knock knock.

I figured it was Mom. Instead of calling me to come out to the car, she wanted to come in and chat for a bit before Sheila got here. So I go running to answer the door with a smile.

It wasn’t Mom. Instead, there was a friendly looking older woman sitting there with voter registration cards and a heavy looking stack of literature. She didn’t look like a Jehovahs Witness or Morman Missionary, so I had no reason to start off cold.

“Good Morning Sir”
Yes, good morning. How can I help you?
“I was wondering if you are planning on voting this November?”
Of course! I always do.
“Have you heard of Proposition 8?”

At this point I start thinking, What on earth?

Why no (I was lying)… would you mind refreshing my memory?
“Well Prop 8 is on the ballot in November. It is meant to protect marriage.”
From what?
“Well, if you vote yes it will protect the sanctity of marriage. By voting yes, it will create a constitutional ammendment that will ban Gay Marriage.”

I can already feel myself growing upset, my cheeks are getting hot… my neck is itching. And she continues to say, “If this law does not pass, it will open the doors for Polygamy and Childmolesters and…”

I finally had enough.

I can assure Mam, that I will be voting NO on Prop 8. This is in fact, a gay household. Get the FUCK off of my property!

She stuttered and nearly dropped her stack of paperwork. I was glowing with rage. What nerve?

“Well thank you for your time sir.” And she went to shake my hand. I looked down at it. Glared. Shut the door.

I was shaking from head to toe. People like this in my neighborhood? I had never thought once that there would be people walking door to door asking people to limit my freedom. To limit the freedom that recently brought so much joy to two of my favorite people in the whole world.

When my mother eventually did arrive, I ran out to the car and got in. She looked at me with a scared look in her eyes and asked, “Honey, what’s wrong?” I told her the story. Immediately, her response was, “Where is the little bitch?” (God, I love my mother.) We had a discussion about what might happen if the law is passed, immediately thinking of Heather and Liz. I don’t want to see their happiness be dashed away by people like this… they deserve so much more.

And then she walked passed the car. Mom asked, “Is that her?” Yes Mom, it’s her. She got out of her car and yelled, “Hey Lady! I’m voting NO ON PROP 8 TOO!”

Her response, “Well God Bless You.”

After a long time bashing her from her bad hair to her cheap shoes… I felt a little better. Still couldn’t shake the scared feeling from my heart. Where can I find “No on Prop 8″ posters? Who do I talk to? What can I do to help?

I walked through the Flea Market in a trance, still thinking of what I can do to help. Found a couple pieces of junk to cheer myself up… Laughed at ugly mexican children… pet the bunnies that people were selling. Okay, back to normal.

And now I’m home. I glanced at the coffee table to find wedding pictures from the wedding. Heather and Liz look so beautiful and happy… happier than I had ever seen two people. I think of the early morning jitters everyone had… the rush to get in the shuttle… the unfortunate and brief romance I had with Dylan… and drunken Daryl asking me to get naked for him. Wow, what a wedding. The wedding of the Century.

Even after all these years in activism and strife, I still cannot think of any reason for people to hate the gay community so much. Even since I came out 10 years ago, I have seen major improvements. However this one final fight has yet to be won. Everyday I feel we have little victories… small glimpses of hope. Hell, Jerry Falwell is dead… that’s gotta count for something! Thank you Jesus for taking him off of our hands.

I hope and pray with all of my heart that I will see the State of California make the right decision in November. There is no reason to take this is away from people like Heather and Liz… Thomas and Darrell (together 21 years)… Me and (name to be filled out later).

Young girls spend their entire lives planning for their wedding day. Young gays do that same. How is it any different. I wish that each of you could have been there on July 19th in that shady spot near the stream where Heather and Liz officially became Mrs. and Mrs. Outlaw. I dare one person who saw them crying those tears of joy to try and take that away. I dare you…

“Children lose their youth too soon
Watching war made us immune
And I’ve got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the

Easy silence that you make for me
It’s okay when there’s nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me”

-Lyrics from “Easy Silence” by the Dixie Chicks
Heather and Liz Outlaw’s Wedding March
July 19th, 2008

We have a long way to go… for now, we have to prepare. There’s a whole lotta ugly coming at us from every angle. But there’s nothing a little hope and prayer can’t fix. I hope.