Friday Weigh-In #8

So today I am almost a pound lighter than last week, but yesterday I was nearly two pounds later.

However as a treat to myself yesterday we went to lunch at the most delicious Ramen restaurant in LA, and their specialty is super fatty and salty pork Ramen, and it is so good.

So anyway, I am still making great progress. I only did a half workout this morning because I have so many errands to run today and I need to make through to tonight.

Samuel Jackson Says no to Prop 8

And is Samuel Jackson the type of guy you want to argue with?

And oh my God . . . Are those actual gay people in the ad? Those two guys in the picture are sitting a little close to each other, aren't they?

Frankly, I just want this election to be over. Tuesday cannot come fast enough for me.

¡En Español!

Mothers against prop 8. Latinos tend to be conservative (think Catholic church dominance of a continent).

I never thought I would think of this as a good thing, but fortunately Latinos aren't the best at getting out to the polls.

Another Reason Only Marriage Will Do

Christina over at Steady Happy posted this and I am borrowing a piece of it because I think it clearly illustrates a large reason marriage is so important to us.

the last time i got the welcome packet, patty & i were merely domestic partners. i tried to add her to my health care benefits. here's what we had to provide:

- our certificate of domestic partnership

- proof that we have a shared bank account for at least one year

- proof that we share some sort of living arrangement (a lease or mortgage that is signed by BOTH of us)

- an affidavit that all the above is true that has been notarized

when i tried to add her, we didn't have the joint lease (patty was on it but i wasn't) so i couldn't add her to my health care. this time, now that we are MARRIED, here's what i had to provide:

- a marriage license

that's it. nothing else. just one copy. we didn't have to prove anything. so i made the copy & sent it off in the mail. done.

please don't tell me that domestic partners and marriage are the same.

People have had to try and argue with ambulance drivers over what a domestic partner is because they wouldn't let them get into the ambulance with their spouse. No one has to explain what the term husband or wife means.

Why Won't Anyone Say Gay

I am noticing a disturbing trend in all of these ads. Here Diane Feinstein is talking about discrimination and how prop 8 is discriminating. Against whom? Gays and lesbians. Not once does she say the "G" word.

In fact gay people are nowhere to be found on these ads. Why? Because we would lose the election?

I am tired.

I am tired of lots of things. I'm tired that this is an issue. I am tired that we will not call a spade a spade. I am gay. Barack Obama is black. Yet no one seems to mention these things.

Lets call it what it really is. This is discriminating against me. It's taken a long time to come to the conclusion that it is ok to be gay, and I still don't feel that way a lot of time when I am out in the world. I don't need this campaign to bring that shame back.

Lets put a face on the issue. Look me in the eye when you discriminate against me.

I promise that after the election I will stop being all political. How soon after the election depends on how things go on Tuesday.

Apple Says No on 8

I was so happy to read this on the Apple website today:

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

I know it's a few days old, but it's news to me.

Mr. Jobs, I have already bought an imac, two ipods, an ipod shuffle, and an iphone from you, so I don't know how much more I can do for you now, but thank you for doing the right thing.

Ok everyone, do what Steve Jobs did and donate to no on 8 today.

Ok, lets see where the teams stand. On my side: Steve Jobs, Brad Pitt, Mr. Spielberg, Google, California Teachers Union, and every major newspaper in California.

On Their side: Mormons, Southern Baptists, Catholics. And they say this isn't about religion? Right.

Stay out of my life churches. You've done enough damage to my psyche. There is nothing wrong with me. You don't know how to separate the sinner from the sin, you can't separate me from what you consider sin because it is a part of me.

Am I Out of Touch

Should I know who Tim Gunn is? In my own defense I don't have cable and don't watch much television. I know I like him, because he's against prop 8!

Just A Little Over a Week

Until the election. Our ads are good, and they are the truth. Do anything you can to make sure prop 8 doesn't pass.

Friday Weigh-In #7

Ok, so I know today is not Friday, which is my usual weigh-in day, but I am moving up my cheat to tonight and there is no way I am weighing myself the morning after a meal like tonight's and counting it as my weigh-in.

My mom has been out of town for a while so tonight she is cooking dinner for hubby and I. We will be having enchiladas and rice, and pumpkin pie for dessert, just because I love pumpkin pie.

This week I hit a 10 lb. mark! I am so excited to be able to say I'm down 10 lbs. so far. I'm starting to see some great results from working out, my clothes fit better, and my energy level is consistently great throughout the day. It's so nice not having that late afternoon "crash".

If I weren't worried and feeling depressed over the possible passing of prop 8, life would be super-peachy right now.

This Is How I Feel

Article about how the Prop 8 campaign is heating up from the San Jose Mercury News. This paragraph really captured how I feel right now.

For many gay and lesbian people, the rhetoric of television ads and even the everyday things people say during a political campaign like Proposition 8 can carry a heavy emotional toll as normally buried feelings of prejudice are revealed, a group of researchers in San Francisco said Tuesday while releasing the results of two national surveys. Many gay and lesbian people are feeling stress, depression and alienation as the campaign intensifies.

I see the Yes on 8 signs about and even though it's not in my usual nature I want to rip them out of the ground and tear them up. I feel like every single one is a personal attack, though the rational part of me knows not all of them are.

Tell Your Girlfriend You Want a Domestic Partnership?

Loved this from Father Geoff Farrow's blog and had to repost it. If you are not reading his blog, you must! Go now, I'll hold your corndog.

Someone recently asked me: "Domestic partnerships are almost the same as marriage, why the need for marriage?"

Under California State law, a heterosexual couple may also enter into a Domestic Partnership. So, try this: Inform your girlfriend that you've decided you'd like to enter into a Domestic Partnership with her, instead of marriage. I am certain that she will be able to explain the HUGE difference between the two realities in a far more forceful and colorful way than, I would ever be able to accomplish.

Just one friendly word of advice from someone who used to play hockey in High School, you should put on an athletic supporter with a protective cup before having the aforementioned conversation with your girlfriend.

I Did Not Choose to be Gay

There seems to be a lot of discussion regarding this point, in fact lately there seems to be a lot of discussion about a lot of topics that affect me directly.

Do not confuse this statement with, “I am not happy being gay,” or, “I wish I was not gay.” All it means is I did not choose to be gay.

A lot of the arguments I have heard about why I should not have the right to marry the man I love are based on the premise that my homosexuality is a choice, and therefore it doesn’t matter who I love because I did not choose to love a woman.

The fact is that even if were shown tomorrow that my sexuality was not a choice but an outcome based solely on biological influences those people fighting so hard to keep me from getting married would not admit their mistake. They would not apologize and offer me well wishes for a long and happy marriage. They would not give me a set of towels off of my wedding registry.

Black people did not choose to be born black. That did not stop people from treating them like second class human beings for so many years of this country’s history.

It does not matter whether I chose to be gay or not. If you think it’s wrong to be gay, you will make it known, and you will make my life difficult, and you’ll do most of it in the name of God.

It is so disheartening that my marriage is going out for a popular vote. It is depressing that so many people who don’t live in California are contributing so much money in the name of God to take that right away from us. A right that was long fought for and only so recently gained.

To all the straight married people out there, be thankful that your marriage will never be put up for a vote.

Some People Have Too Much Time

Just like me! Watch it. Laugh. Vote No on 8.

The California Constitutuion is Hot

There's so many of these I will just post them all the way to election day!

Friday Weigh-In #6

Well this week I managed to not lose any wight. I did not gain any weight though, and I have been sticking to my gym routine, so hooray for that. I love the feeling of being stronger, and then slowly you begin to notice that your chest is getting bigger than your belly, and that's a flattering look for everyone.

Unfair. Unnecessary. And wrong.

That's what Prop 8 is. Go to the No on 8 website to see what you can do.

Do What Ellen Says

No on Prop 8 Ads

"Again with the no new or original content?"

That's what you're saying, and I'm saying, "I'm busy and stressed at work and I'm doing the best I can, so stop yelling at me!"

So why don't you watch these cute ads starring semi-celebrities Molly Rinwald and Margaret Cho I saw on Cats Cheese and a Wedding Please. The Mac and PC take is cute, and it's hard to tell but Molly Ringwald's husband might be cute as well.

Father Geoff Farrow

Sometimes I feel like blogging is just pointing out things that everyone else is pointing out, but sometimes it's worth it to direct people to a certain place.

I encourage all of you to read the blog of Father Geoff Farrow, who has been placed on suspension from the Catholic church after refusing to endorse Prop 8 which would ban same sex marriage in California. Check out his blog, he's a little long winded (like most priests aren't?) but definitely worth reading.

I Am Ever So Pissed

While checking up on the blog this afternoon I was really upset to see that the Yes on 8 people had set up residence in the adspace on my blog! I was so upset that I immediately got rid of all the google adsense ads and buzzlogic as well.

I am so mad that these people would post their ads here. Especially since the buzzwords I chose were gay weddings and gay wedding planning, so they knew exactly where their ads would end up. The only reason I had installed the adsense ads was because I have a sneaking suspicion that they help with coming up higher in Google searches, there is no way I was going to get rich off of adsense.

I was so upset I wanted to contact Google and let them know what was going on, but they make that surprisingly difficult.

So consider this an ad free zone! (unless I at some point decide to give up space to sponsors chosen by yours truly personally)

More Pictures From Rob and Sarah's Disneyland Wedding

A short while ago I told you all about Sarah and Robin who were the first legal same sex marriage to take place at the Disneyland resort.

They had an awesome wedding with Sarah rocking a red dress, riding up to the ceremony together in Cinderella's coach, and a very cool checkerboard dance floor I think I want for our wedding.

Enjoy the pictures (courtesy of Boutwell Studios) and congratulations Rob and Sarah, may the happiness we see in these pictures last the rest of your lives.

No on Prop 8 Video

I think this whole prop 8 ordeal and the wedding have me feeling more emotional than usual because this actually made me cry a little.

Friday Weigh-In #5

Despite a trip to San Francisco this weekend with outings to Ghirardelli Square, delicious pecan pie, and short ribs that melted in my mouth I managed to lose 2 lbs. this week. I am so excited to almost be halfway to my goal.

I know a lot of people might think it's shallow to lose weight to look good on your wedding day, and maybe it is, but this is about more than that. I don't just want to lose weight, I want to be more fit and in better shape. I want to permanently carry on healthier eating habits.

In addition to that next year I turn 30, and I want to start a new decade of my life in better shape and carry that through to my 40's. Although being thinner than all my college friends at the wedding will also be nice.

Fighting Back Against the Lies

It has been so thoroughly depressing watching the ads being put out there by the yes on 8 people. I'm glad to see we are fighting back!

It really makes me angry how much money the Mormon church is throwing against us.

Momons, seriously?

Didn't you guys used to have a lot of wives? Weren't you once cruelly persecuted? This is the best use you can find for that money?

So now I have to spend money to fight this proposition. These ads aren't cheap to run people! Make a contribution at No on Prop 8.

You Don't Like Your Own Medicine?

This week the State of California announced that they would return the designations "bride" and "groom" to California marriage licenses. The designations were removed after same sex marriage was made legal in California and replaced with the terms "Partner A" and "Partner B". (I got to be partner A on our form!)

Well since this happened a whole lot of people have been complaining about the new forms. They don't want to be "Partner A" and "Partner B", they want to be "bride" and "groom". So now you have the option of checking a little box and designating yourself bride and groom.

So here is my news to you. I want to be "Married". I don't want to be a "domestic partner" or "civilly unionized". I want to say "this is my husband", not "this is someone I live with in the State of California with whom I share many of the rights and responsibilities shared by married people."

Many of the people out there fighting to pass prop 8 say that gays and lesbians already have the rights of married people in California, so why does it matter what you call it? The people who fought to have "bride" and "groom" brought back to the California marriage license application know that it matters what you call things. There is power in our words.

So I am telling you all that while I am still planning a wedding, for the next four weeks I really think it's time to kick up the political activism up a notch. As we get closer to the election I ask all of you bloggers out there on the internet, all of you who have neighbors and all of you who have family and friends that believe that it is important to ensure these rights are retained to make sure your audience gets out and votes.

Not only here in California, but also in Florida and any other states where the rights of a gay minority are threatened by the lies and closed-mindedness of a small group of people. So get out the vote, and contribute some money to the Campaign Against Prop 8. It's going to happen someday, let's make that someday November 4th, 2008.

To Vote, Or Not To Vote

Hey everyone quick update! If you were thinking about voting against gay rights the election has been changed to November 5th, everyone else can still show up on the 4th.

Awesome Wedding Cake

If I were marrying my clone we would seriously consider these as possible wedding cakes. My current soon to be husband, not so much probably. I can't hold it against him though because we are still going to have a great wedding and an awesome cake.

I guess if you're not a video game nerd you don't understand how big a part Mario played in my childhood. He gave paunchy people round the world hope that they too could be the hero and get the princess (well, I didn't want the princess, but her dress is very pretty).

The pix come courtesy of Cake Wrecks.

Friday Weigh-In #4

Well I managed to lose another two pounds this week, so yay me! My goal is inching ever closer, like a turtle crawling over large pieces of pumpkin pie. I kind of cheated myself on gym going this week though, I only went twice, but it has been a crazy week.

This weekend I am off to LoveFest in San Francisco, and it is going to kick ass! I know San Fran is going to be bad for the waistline what with visits to Ghirardelli Square and the such, but hopefully I will be doing enough dancing and walking to burn those calories off!

I had a great meeting with a florist last night, but to be more precise she'd probably be more of a floral designer or floral artist even. Will post all about it when I get back, ciao.

A Real Gay Wedding in Purple

Usually when you ask me about colors I don't like, purple is usually the first thing out of my mouth. Not that I have anything against purple specifically, it's a lovely color, just not my first choice for something to wear large amounts of. Maybe it dates back to being young and at some point being forced to wear a purple shirt by my mother and sort of remembering feeling like a pudgy little grape.

Then when e-mailing a florist about my ideas and asking where here inspiration might lead her she said she was thinking touches of purple.

Purple? Really?

Then I came across these pictures on Gay Weddings by The Knot and the idea started to grow on me. I think I am liking the idea of purple accents. Gray jackets with purple ties, love it. There will be lots of green at our wedding since that is currently one of my favorite colors, and the purple I think would tie in really well.

I am meeting with the florist today! We'll see how this whole purple thing may work out for us.