Peg Kerr's Journal

I am so happy about today's Supreme Court decision that I feel as though I am on the verge of exploding.

I had hoped I would see this one day, but now that it's actually here...wow.

Best. Pride. Weekend. Evah.

Here are some links.

The Supreme Court Marriage Equality decision, in haiku.

19 hysterical passages from Supreme Court Same Sex Dissenters.

[Suck it, Scalia.]

And I also wanted to say this: I want to remember all of those who hoped and prayed and sweated and worked and marched and fought for this day, yet did not live to see it. My interest in gay civil rights began when I was researching The Wild Swans, and it has only continued to become more passionate and burning as I have watched the changes in American culture over the past two decades. I am utterly convinced that the nation would have not progressed to this point had it not been for the AIDS epidemic, for all the brave, dying men who realized that they had to come out of the closet, in order to fight the cruelest of diseases, to fight their shamefully complacent and criminally uncaring government, to fight for their right to have their partners visit them in the hospitals, for their renters rights, their inheritance rights. A generation of men were forcibly outed to their astonished families because of AIDS, and Americans had to really face for the first time that the people that they casually, unthinkingly denigrated were in actuality their beloved sons, their brothers, their fathers, their uncles, their cousins.

A whole generation of amazing creative talent was lost. But their tireless activism changed the face of America for those that followed them.

I want to light a candle for Sean and Elias, and for all the others with their names on the AIDS Quilt. Thank you for your fight, and for the way you changed this nation. We will not forget your courage, your faith, and your sacrifice.

Edited to add: Someone pointed this out on Facebook, and I think it's important: in the joy of this victory, I don't want to forget or exclude in the celebrations this weekend the other sisters and brothers on this journey: those who identify as bi and trans (or questioning or asexual for that matter). There are all sorts of points on the rainbow continuum, and they need to be assured of their full rights as American citizens, too.

Another thing: it's entirely possible that there will be people who will joyfully post their wedding photos online, only to be fired the next day. You can STILL lose your job for being gay in more than half the states. We still have a lot of work to do.

Interesting article here.

"CEO Barilla has released another apology, this time on video. It’s difficult to watch the video, and Barilla’s near comatose delivery, without thinking of Patty Hearst. Clearly this is someone who’s had a bad 48 hours, and appears under some duress....In response to the video, a number of people on Facebook defended Barilla’s homophobia, and actually got upset with him for apologizing. Sadly for Barilla, his defenders didn’t do him any favors."

Mr. Barilla's apology is undercut by previous remarks, which suggests that this 'apology' is simply back-pedaling to protect the company's market share. Yet: is it possible that people whose opinions are laced with homophobia can change? Is it possible that the outcry from Mr Barilla's remarks have shocked him into really rethinking his attitudes? It's possible. Difficult, but possible. Since he does want to protect the company, his apology is suspect, and one wonders how sincere it really is (he still insists he has never discriminated against gays. Yeah, right). Yet, if he does follow through with his offer to meet with people whose definition of family differs from his, perhaps his mind will be opened. A little.

For the time being, however, I won't be buying any Barilla pasta.

What do you think?



See also this article.

Today's the big day here in Minnesota. CONGRATULATIONS to all the new newlywed couples. I'm so happy for you! Joy and peace to you, and equitable tax filings.

Sean and Elias are raising a glass in your honor.

with the results of the election. I'm particularly happy that the Marriage Amendment of Minnesota went down to defeat, and proud that I phone banked against it. It's the first time I've volunteered with a political campaign like that. Yes, gay marriage is still illegal in the state of Minnesota, but at least it isn't written into our constitution. I'm delighted that the Photo ID amendment was voted down, I'm happy that Elizabeth Warren was voted in, in Massachusetts. I'm sorta happy that Obama was re-elected, but mostly I'm ecstatic that Mitt Romney was defeated.

And I'm happy that Fiona voted in her first Presidential election evah. (Not her first election, mind: being her mother and daddy's daughter, she has already faithfully voted in some primary elections.).

(But Michele Bachmann is going back to Congress. Boo! Please don't judge the rest of us Minnesotans by her politicians of her ilk, USA.)


And now, a victory lap by Obama's Anger Translator. Hat tip to sdn:

Despite the sad news this week, this made me smile:

There is a tree by a lake locally, where, according to legend, the Lake Harriet elf lives. The door appeared at the base of the tree years ago, and every year, little elf things appear in the elf's front lawn. Many, many people, particularly children, stop by the tree to leave notes for the elf, and they leave offerings in his yard.

You may be aware that Minnesota is one of the states which will be voting on a so-called marriage amendment. In our case, the proposed constitutional amendment would prevent gays from marrying (something which is barred by statute already).

I am tickled as can be to see that the Lake Harriet elf votes 'No.'

It was a gorgeous weekend. Delia struggled a fair amount with the decision when we asked her, 'What do you want to do for your birthday?' We suggested movies, and there were some she wanted to see, but that didn't seem special enough for a birthday. Yesterday, she decided she wanted to devote a day to art, and so we came up with an itinerary of various places we could visit: the Northern Clay Center, Wet Paint, an independent art store, and a place where people go to sketch the fourth Sunday of every month.

Today, she decided to throw all those plans out the window, and we went instead to the annual Pride Festival at Loring Park. It's attended by about 100,000 people in the Twin Cities. This year was the 40th anniversary.

Now, I've been to the Gay Pride Parade a couple times before, which is part of the weekend events, and even taken the girls (it's held on Sunday morning). But I've never been to the Minneapolis Pride Festival at Loring Park before.

I hear your gasp of surprise. I know, I know! I wrote The Wild Swans. How is it POSSIBLE that I have NEVER been to Loring Park on Pride Weekend?

I haven't. It certainly not that I'm not interested in the subject, as all the research I did for The Wild Swans triggered my interest in the topic of gay civil rights, an interest that has never diminished. It's not as close and convenient as the May Day Festival, and the crowd is much huger. But this year, yes, we went.

Delia's interest in these topics has certainly grown this year. The GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) at her high school is extremely active (in fact, at her school the bathrooms turn unisex for a block of time every day to accommodate the transgender students). She also appeared in her school's production of '8,' which has also made her think about these things.

So what did I think of it? My base of comparison was, undoubtedly, May Day. Both are held in a Minneapolis park, with a lake, and booths for the event circle the lake. Both are colorful, both are a beloved ritual for many in the city, both are shot through with a certain feeling of the removal of restraint, an opening, a flowering. For May Day, it's winter that we're shaking off, for Pride, it's the closet. Both offer (expensive) food and bands on stages. At Pride, there is an extra layer of bureaucracy: none of the food booths accept cash. You have to purchase food and beverage tickets. If you neglected to bring cash, they have ATMS, but this means waiting in THREE lines: for the ATM, for the food and beverage ticket booth, and then for the food.

More naked skin: Pride, but the weather is much warmer by then, too, which is probably a factor.
More dreadlocks: May Day.
More glitter: Pride.
More corporate: Pride
More environmental: May Day, by far (May Day sold no bottled water at all this year. Instead, they had water stations set up all over the park, and people were encouraged to bring their own containers. They also recycle everything; even the food is separated out to be composted. It was certainly startling to me to see all the plastic bottles in the trash at Pride.)
More nonprofit: I'd say May Day is more nonprofit oriented. But Pride has probably a bigger nonprofit presence, simply because of its bigger size.

We parked at Uptown and then bused there, which worked well, and then the girls cheerfully informed me that they were ditching me. We checked in by phone every hour or so. I wandered by myself. Although it was my first time there, I didn't find much that surprised me; I've very familiar with many of the gay-oriented businesses and nonprofits in the city. (One thing that did was a whole avenue of booths, at least ten or so, all devoted to pets, mostly dogs. I guess they figure that gays luuuurrrrve their pets.)

It was hot. I debated between bringing a hat and something I purchased at the last Renaissance Festival: a big, sturdy Japanese paper parasol. I chose the parasol, and I'm very glad I did. This worked splendidly as a sunshade, and I was very glad I had it. I think it kept me much cooler than a hat alone would have done.

One nice thing: the girls encountered the Gaylaxicon 2012 booth where they saw some local SF/Fantasy fans that they knew. There was a white board up with trivia questions: and MY NAME was the answer to one of the trivia questions. (Fiona, they said, was the only person, however, who knew the answer to the question, which was a little lowering). Anyway, when the girls ran into me again, they told me this, so I stopped by the booth, and was very graciously told that if I wished to attend the convention, they would be delighted to comp my membership. So I will probably attend the Gaylaxicon in October of this year.

So: a very fun day, albeit exhausting. Happy Pride, everyone!




{Take the 100 Things challenge!}

Maybe all month: here:

"@LegendMG: The thing that bugs me most about North Carolina; Jesus had two dads."

Also: my favorite fictional president, Josiah Bartlet (@Pres_Bartlet) made a speech, on Twitter no less, in response to yesterday's events (link here):

The following is a speech given on twitter by the account of the fictional President Bartlet from the television show The West Wing, on May 9, 2012, about the passage of Amendment 1 in North Carolina, and directly preceding President Obama's endorsement of Gay Marriage. Each line represents one tweet. President Bartlet can be followed on twitter @Pres_Bartlet

To those who want to retaliate against North Carolina for their vote my moving the DNC: You are going about this all wrong.

If anything, the vote in North Carolina is a sign that we need to spend more time in this state, not less. We still have minds to change.

To give up the task of reforming society is to give up one's responsibility as a free man.

When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.

I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find that we are turned to hating.

Cry, The Beloved Country, For The Unborn Child That's The Inheritor Of Our Fear.

Alan Paton's words are as true today as they were in his day.

There is only one thing that has power completely and this is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power.

It would be easy to be consumed by anger and hatred right now. I suggest that instead we commit ourselves to love and forgiveness.

Let our message be the message of love. Of the belief that all men and women who share love should be treated equally under the law.

Will it be harder for @BarackObama to win reelection if he comes out in support of gay marriage? Maybe. I can see the argument.

I have found in my many, many years in politics that doing the hard thing is usually the same as doing the right thing.

We are, here and now, setting the conversation for the next generation. If we refuse to stand up, we are failing our children.

We are failing our brothers and sisters, or mothers and fathers, our fellow men and women of this country. We are failing them.

For those of you worried about energizing the base of the GOP, I have to tell you, they are already energized.

[At this point, the news breaks that Obama endorses gay marriage]

Game on.

Two good pieces of commentary re: Amendment One and Christianity.

How Evangelicals, with their stand against gay civil rights, are turning off the young from Christianity: How to win a culture war and lose a generation.

A challenge to both sides of the Amendment One debate (from the blog "Crumbs from the Communion table." The author is a gay Christian living in North Carolina.) Edited to add: piccolo_pirate notes: The author of the "Crumbs from the Communion Table" blog is actually Justin Lee, the Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network, which is a fabulous resource for anyone struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality, or just looking to find other gay Christians.

I've been contacted by OutFront, asking whether I want to volunteer to man a phone bank to help defeat the Minnesota Marriage Amendment. I said I'd think about it. I'm not sure about phone bank work, but I really want to do SOMETHING. So I went to poke around the Minnesota United for All Families website to see what other volunteer opportunities there might be.

On May 20, Minnesota United for All Families are trying to set up house parties to bring people together to discuss the amendment and try to raise money to defeat it: "By hosting an event on this day you will help support Minnesotans United – by inviting your friends, coworkers, neighbors and family to events on this day you will help organize Minnesotans to Vote No and raise the money needed to defeat this amendment." I am not sure I can host a party, but perhaps I could find another person doing so and volunteer to help. (See the Facebook group here.)

Another possibility: They are asking for volunteers at the May Day parade and at a booth at Powderhorn Park. This is something that perhaps I could do. Perhaps one or both of the girls might be interested in participating, too.

I just want to defeat this amendment so badly. I don't have much money to contribute (although I've already made a small donation). But I need to get out and volunteer.

This is from an Australian group for marriage equality.