Well, I am sitting here with a pair of pantyhose stuffed with two packs of frozen peas strapped to my lower chin. No, no--it's not some weird fetish (although I do have a few involving frozen peas;)) but I just had my wisdom teeth removed. Don't ask me why the hell I've waited so long but yesterday I arrived to the doctor's, signed in, got X-rayed, knocked out and ripped open all within 45 minutes. It was insane. I finally had to say...you guys are going way too fast. I'm drugged and am not following a word you're saying. The nurse just winked and whispered in my ear,

"Don't you worry. I'm gonna hook you up."



Yup, those were mine!


I thought it was a little creepy but then I was out. The next thing I know I am waking up to this crushing feeling on my lower left jaw. Uh, yah...that's right. I had come to while the good doc was shattering my lower left wisdom tooth. I instinctively grimaced and twitched my feet. The same nurse came to my ear again...

"Hey baby, don't worry. Stop moving..I'm gonna give you the good stuff."

Ew. Why was the nurse so creepy and intimate. I felt like I was scoring a hit up on Santa Monica Blvd. (Which I've never done, Mom. I swear. No-no seriously. ;)) Anyway...it was finally over Christina (aka Pepper) was there to rescue me and take me home where she Angelo and I watched old movies all night long. That is until I busted one of the clots and started to bleed out. But that's where I'll stop...it gets a little graphic. :)

So as I sit here with the crotch of these pantyhose just inches from my face I really just have one question..women can't return pantyhose, right?

WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE?

June 5th. That’s right: 06.05.06. That is the date this government is going to sucker punch the LGBT community once again with bigotry and hate. With the political firestorm and smokescreens of immigration reform, domestic wire tapping, the war in Iraq, and the possibility of a new war in Iran, the right wing agenda is counting on no-one paying attention to the re-introduction of the Federal Marriage Amendment which will strip the LGBT community of its civil liberties forever. That’s right: June 2nd. Have any of you received a call to arms from our LGBT political leaders and straight allies? I haven’t.

My question to everyone in my life is, “What is it going to take?” What is it going to take until you stand up and say, “Enough is enough!”? I don’t care if you are gay. I don’t care if you are a lesbian. I don’t care if you are straight. I don’t even care if you’ve claimed all of the above at one point. What I do care is that as a proud gay man I have a target on my back and I am moments away from having the rights and protections to my own family, life partner and slice of the American dream taken from me forever.

Here in California we had such an opportunity to push forward the momentum of the state-to-state battle for marriage equality. The state of California was handed the amazing gift from our legislators of full marriage rights and equality. When the governor of this fine state threatened to veto our future rights, what was the biggest response our political leaders could muster: a postcard campaign. That’s a right, a 4x5 card with messages from people country wide that the governor was never going to read or even consider. What a brilliant tactic to solidify our civil liberties and future protection under state law: four-cent postcards. With the amount of money and power this community holds what IS it going to take until we demand equality under the law?

These last few weeks here in America have been fantastic. The amount of protests and uprisings against this administration and its rubber stamp congress has been refreshing. To see the streets of New York filled with people from so many different groups and political bases was amazing. To see the peace protests in Washington DC just this last weekend made me wonder have people finally had enough? I have watched a population of immigrants and supporters organize, mobilize and take to the streets to show their solidarity and dedication to this country. I have had so many friends become energized just from the immigration reform marches alone that they’ve wanted to take to the streets themselves for this cause. Friends who have never met an illegal immigrant or known anyone who would be personally affected by immigration reform were moved enough to take to the streets.

Have our LGBT political leaders failed us with such ineffective organizing and chaotic messaging that we are that de-politicized? I sincerely ask what IS it going to take to motivate you, regardless of sexual orientation or political standing? Is it going to take buses pulling up to our front doors and loading us up to take us all away? Would that be enough for you to say STOP? Would public hangings of gays and lesbians do it? Please, somebody tell me when am I not going to feel so alone standing with my fist raised in the air asking for one simple request: Equality.

I pay the same amount of taxes to support this country as any of my straight counterparts; yet, they can drunkenly marry a stranger in Vegas any day of the week; and it’s fully recognized under the law. I have friends who have been partnered for decades; and in most states they don’t even have hospital visitation rights. This is not acceptable. I pay the same amount of taxes to support this country as any of my straight counterparts; yet, they can wed a stranger from another country any day of the week and it is fully recognized under the law. I have neighbors who’ve been partnered for 15 years, one of whom is from Canada and had to be sponsored by his employer in order to stay in the country with his husband. This is not acceptable.

JUNE 2nd is quickly approaching; and I ask you, what is it going to take? Is it that you don’t believe I deserve the same rights to a family and secure life under the protection of the law? If that’s the case I want to look you in the eye and ask you why? What is it about you that wants to keep me from having equal civil liberties? When you’re alone in the voting booth these decisions may be easy to make; but I need you to look me in the eye and tell me why when I am a functioning player in this economy/country I don’t deserve the equal rights and liberties in this place we call the United States of America.

I am standing here alone in the dark with my fist raised in the air. I am asking all of you to stand with me on June 1st, an LGBT day of Independence, and say NO to this administration.

I am standing here alone in the dark with my fist raised in the air and I am asking you to stand with me on June 1st, an LGBT day of Independence, and say NO to the fervor of the extreme right.

I am standing here alone in the dark with my fist raised in the air and I am asking all of you to stand with me on June 1st, an LGBT day of Independence, and flex our economic muscle of our SIX+ BILLION-DOLLAR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION to this country.

I am standing here alone in the dark with my fist raised in the air and I am asking all of you to stand with me on June 1st, an LGBT day of Independence to claim our voices as the last legal minority.

Whether you keep your dollar out of the economy, keep yourself out of the workplace or simply wear red and tell people why; I ask you to stand with me and send a message to the people that lead with hate and bigotry. Enough is enough. The Federal Marriage Amendment tarnishes our country, our constitution and us as citizens. Stand up and speak out before it is your own civil liberties as Gays, Straights, Women, Hispanics, Blacks, Muslims, Jews, the list goes on and on, that are taken away forever.

If you believe in equal rights for ALL citizens please post this bulletin three times in a row on your MySpace page or Blog. Post this EVERY day from now until June 5th. It's time to speak out. It's time make a statement. This is a battle we can't afford to lose.

www.junefirst.org

New York! New York! What a wonderful town...

What an insane weekend. It seems the older I get the bigger and better the adventures. I went to New York for my good friend Cindy's wedding. We worked together producing AIDS Walk NY and she was the bright star in that crazy town job. She asked me a few weeks back if I wouldn't mind emceeing her reception. They weren't having a DJ and I was one of her only friends who wouldn't mind grabbing a mic and speaking in front of 180 people. I wholeheartedly agreed. What a great wedding gift, right? Oh wait...was I supposed to buy something too? Sh*t.

Now there were a couple things I hadn't really counted on. The wedding was on May 6th and I forgot I was getting to NYC on Friday, May 5th. Um, yah. That's Cinco de Mayo. The one night Tequila flows like water and getting home before 5am just isnt' a possibility. I also forgot that my friend is a wonderfully, faithful Mennonite and there would be no alcohol or gay people at this reception. Oh my God.

Needless to say--I staggered to the church around 4:30 PM for one of greatest ceremonies ever. Dan, her then fiance, played "Here Comes the Bride," on his electric guitar as Cindy walked down the aisle looking like an angel. It really was so "them" and appropriate. More base than the church on 46th St. had ever seen though I'm sure.

The reception was quick to follow and as I walked in the door I was handed an itinerary with times, names, positions, scripts, etc...etc..Holy CRAP! I felt like J-Lo in, "The Wedding Planner." What had I signed on to do. I didn't know anybody here. Who was in charge? Me? Oh Sweet Jesus. Why did I do that 5th shot of Tequila last night. I pulled myself together and went for it. A room full of sober, Mennonite, strangers really isn't the easiest audience--but what are you gonna do. We all did have something in common, however, Cindy and Dan. It was a very special night--and I think I did pull it off with just a few people wondering who the queer in the pin stripe suit holding the mic was.

Congrats Cindy...you two are beautiful together. Oh, and after officiating my sister's wedding in July and this one this weekend...I'm available for hire now. Any takers? ;)