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OK, I admit I've been slack here in WRITING some posts and using videos as a quick daily drop of interest or info, but it is valuable!

Well she did, and it cost her. Apparently her personal feelings and her need to be true to herself cost her the Miss USA crown. She is supposed to represent ALL of us and apparently gay and lesbians don't count.

I love America for the rights we have, one of them being Freedom of Speech, but this was not a personal question, it was a question that as a representative of all of us, she was supposed to answer.

Here is a question posed to Miss California by blogger Perez Hilton:

As one of our most revered presidents said,

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"

- Abraham Lincoln

Mind you, I have an open mind and as I expressed, admire her for "sticking to her guns" and what she believes. Would love to hear your feedback and opinions, keep it tame please!

Iowa's Supreme Court just ruled today that gay marriage is and will be legal in the state. The decision makes Iowa the first Midwestern state, and the fourth nationwide, to allow same-sex marriages.

What's up with California already?

I read that the Iowa Supreme Court’s web site was hit with more than 350,000 visitors this morning. Steve Davis, a court spokesman, said administrators added extra computer servers to handle the expected increase in web traffic, but “this is unprecedented,” Davis said.

Richard Socarides, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton on gay civil rights, said today’s decision could set the stage for other states. Socarides was a senior political assistant for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in the early 1990s.

“I think it’s significant because Iowa is considered a Midwest state in the mainstream of American thought,” Socarides said. “Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, 'As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’”

Three years ago after 25 years together, my partner Dave and I celebrated with friends and had a commitment ceremony. We did this for us and to thank our friends for being in our lives. We'll see if this ever happens in California and EVERYONE has equality in the land of the free.

Thought I'd share this article written by  L. K. Regan:

In its waning days in December of 2008, the Bush administration refused to sign a United Nations declaration demanding the universal decriminalization of homosexuality the world over. Yesterday, in a key reversal of Bush administration policy, the United States formally endorsed the UN statement, joining all of its western allies in support of a fundamental human rights policy.

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Sometimes I just think crazy things, like...

"Nothing quite says unconditional love like the evil glare of a Christian bookstore clerk when asked where the Gay Parenting section is."

Hopefully things like that will change with the advancement of our country's thinking, our government's new direction, and letting go of the ridiculous notion that gays and lesbians can't make good parents or would damage the institution of marriage. We need to overturn Prop Hate.

I mean really, how many marriages do you know that have ended in divorce? Last stat I saw was that 45.5% of marriages end in divorce, some say 1 in 3! Whatever the number, it makes one think of bailout, but that's another topic. So much for the sanctity of marriage and taking that vow seriously, right?

So why stop two loving individuals from enjoying the same thing? It boils down to equality, plain and simple. My money is green and I pay taxes, too. I am not a second class citizen.

I've been in the same fun, loving relationship, continuously now with the same person, Dave, for 28 years now. We have no plans on getting married. We have all legal documents covered for our power of attorney and medical issues, but that right needs to be changed. Three years ago we celebrated 25 years and had a ceremony to celebrate with friends. Funny thing we probably had more heterosexual friends there than gay! We are blessed to be surrounded by some amazing, loving and supporting people. I wish the rest of the country had that support.