NaBloPoMo Month - "The Right Side of History"

NaBloPoMo Month - "The Right Side of History"
Entry #5 - 11/05/2013

"As president, I have always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally under the law. Over time, I also came to believe that same-sex couples should be able to get married like anyone else. So tonight, Michele and I are overjoyed for all the committed couples in Illinois whose love will now be as legal as ours - and for their friend and family who long wanted nothing more than to see their loves ones treated fairly and equally under the law."

A statement from President Barack Obama that was issued today after the General Assembly of Illinois, passed, narrowly mind you, a gay marriage bill that has cleared the way for the state to become the 15th out of 50 (in case you were keeping count) to legalize same-sex unions!

We've all heard the saying, "It only takes one person to make a difference..." well tonight in Illinois those words have held more truth than ever before. The bill received 61 votes in the House, one more than the bare minimum needed to send the measure back to the Senate - which signed off on the bill...QUICKLY!

The passing of the Marriage Equality Act in the "Land of Lincoln" just one day after U.S. Representative Mike Michaud announced in an op-ed piece to Maine residences and the rest of the world that he was a homosexual.

The heart of this issue...same-sex marriage is about equality for everyone. In a country where we declare "all men to be created equal" only nearly one-third of the states in this country have followed through with that. How long will it take before the rest of the country joins Illinois and the other 14 states on the right side of history!? It's interesting to note that while members of the black caucus came out in support of the bill and deemed It a civil rights issue. While members of the African American Clergy Coalition praised (yes praised) those who voted against the measure by saying, "We will always believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. Yet we will still love the members of the LGBT community." I'm sure the Bishop means well enough...

"Today the Illinois House put our state on the right side of history. Illinois is a place that embraces all people and today, we are an example for the nation," stated Governor Pay Quinn...to which I reply your moved 35 other states...including Oklahoma...it's time to get on the right side of history!

NaBloPoMo Month - "I Lead..."

NaBloPoMo Month - "I Lead..."
Entry #4 - 11/04/2013

The state slogan for Maine in Latin is Dirigo and when translated to English means, I Lead...and that slogan could take on a whole new meaning come November 2014, if Representative Mike Michaud has anything to say about it...considering he could be the first gay governor in the United States of America.

Aggregated data collected from Pew Research Center in March 2013 and May 2013 indicates that the General Public favor legalization of gay and lesbian marriage by 50%. Democrats show their favoritism of the hot button issue by 62% while Republicans continue to practice 2004 politics and only favor gays and lesbians marrying by 33%.

U.S. Representative Mike Machuad

These numbers came into play today when Maine Democrat, Representative Mike Michaud a contender for his parties nomination for Governor declared today in a column that appeared in the Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald that he was in fact a gay man in Congress. And for those of you who are keeping count, that brings the total number of openly gay members of the United House to seven, and there are eight total openly gay legislators in Congress including Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin.

But what is so historic about Representative Michaud's announcement is not only the fact that he could become the first openly gay man elected to the post of Governor in the United States, but that he was so to the point about it and more importantly not wanting his truth to impact his state and the election that he has a vested interest in. In an effort to squash the "whisper campaigns" and "insinuations" from those opposed to his candidacy, he simply stated, "They want people to question whether I am gay. Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: 'Yes I am. But why should it matter?'"

In a society that worries far to much about who's zooming with who...will this coming out of the Michaud have an impact on the Gubernatorial election nearly a year away? If previous votes that pertain to gay marriage in Maine is any indication it appears no - in a recent poll conducted by Bangor Daily News disapproval of gay marriage in Maine is down 38%, while 62% of Maine residence say marriage equality has had "no impact" on their lives. What a novel concept..."NO IMPACT" it's funny how the idea of two men in a loving and committed relationship has had no impact on straight citizens of Maine, just as I am sure a man and a woman has had no impact on gay citizens of Maine - other than the idea of being denied civil liberties in other parts of the country...Oklahoma included.

Governor Mary Fallin announced her re-election campaign last month. She also ordered the National Guard to stop processing requests for military benefits for same-sex couples in September...and by doing so ignored a directive from the Pentagon. Governor Fallin based her reasoning on a 2004 law. It's no doubt that the Governor will campaign for re-election based on 2004 data regarding this issue. A decade later it's sad that one state could elect the first ever homosexual Governor, while another (hey Oklahoma!) is denying benefits to the National Guard! And let's hope that Governor Fallin doesn't preach to us about the sanctity of marriage...considering the fact she's DIVORCED!

Michaud put it best when speaking on if his sexual orientation would impact his nearly 30 years of public service or his job as Governor of Maine..."My personal life has never factored into how I do my job and it's not going to factor into how I do my job as governor. Let's move forward and talk about the issues that matter to Maine."

And talk about the issues that matter to all of us, not just in Maine but in the United States and in our own state. Who's zooming who should not longer be an issue. I'll continue to follow the Michaud election and hopefully a year from now write a post about his election night as the Governor! Can you imagine the Inaugural Balls and Galas!?!