Equality & Me....

 
I am never one to be what too much of an activist but I found
myself being compelled to share my thoughts on the current DOMA issue.

For those that do not know DOMA stands for (Defense Of Marriage Act).
DOMA is the current law that restricts federal marriage benefits to
same sex couples.

I feel sometimes in order to voice what I feel I should have facts to
back this up.

DID YOU KNOW: According to the federal government's General Accounting
Office (GAO), more than 1,100 rights and protections are conferred to
U.S. citizens upon marriage. Areas affected include Social Security
benefits, veterans' benefits, health insurance, Medicaid, hospital
visitation, estate taxes, retirement savings, pensions, family leave,
and immigration law.

I do not know at this stage if Jacob and I will ever get married, neither of us are super crazy about a huge ceremony and of course would rather spend the funds just vacationing. Even if marriage was
legal, we as Domestic Partners have a lot of state
rights. federal rights are another thing.

It would be nice to not pay taxes on our insurance; It would be nice
to have the ability to not have a will that states specifically what
each other can or can't do if we get sick or heaven forbid pass away.

I think the idea that Jacob and I after 4 years together would not be
afforded the same luxuries as those that are  together for months or
in some cases days is just a smack in the face. We both pay taxes,
work very hard, budget, shop, are spiritually driven,  and do all the same things any other
couple does. Yet I am not allowed these due to the fact I was born
gay. Yes, I know I was born this way because trust me it would be way
easier legaly to jump the fence and not be this way. Heck I even tried
it for a bit.I know that we all as Americans should be allowed the rights that provide us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, I just ask that you take that into consideration in any judgments you may have.

Thanks for reading my two seconds of rant... for some further reading
please check out the link below;


 www.glad.org/uploads/docs/publications/cu-vs-marriage.pdf

2013 Bday Song

11 years ago I started a new tradition of picking a "SONG OF THE YEAR" for my birthday. The song is a vision of where i have been and a glimpse into where i am heading ... the past years have been: *Precious Illusions - Alanis Morissette (2002) *Good Enough - Darren Hayes (2003) *Kinda Hard - Eric Himan (2004) *Farewell to The Old Me - Dar Williams (2005) *Whole- Casey Stratton (2006) *Phoenix Rising - Dan Paul (2007) *Lessons Learned - Carrie Underwood(2008) *32 Flavors - Ani DiFranco (2009) *Coming Around - Christopher Dallman (2010) *Let The Rain - Sara Bareilles (2011) *Stronger - Kelly Clarkson (2012) This year I have worked on my own personal journey to step into the light and into a place of healing and to find the light I have let be dimmed for way too long... On a recent trip I was listening to the new Tegan & Sara album "HEARTTHROB" and this song was def the feeling I have had all manifested into a 3 min and 51 second song... so this years song is *I'm Not Your Hero - Tegan & Sara (2013) "I'm Not Your Hero" Standing where I am now, standing up at all I was used to feeling like I was never gonna see myself at the finish line Hanging on to parts of me, hanging on at all I was used to seeing no future in my sight line Sometimes it feels like they wanna remind me Send all those villains after me I'm not their hero But that doesn't mean that I wasn't brave I never walked the party line Doesn't mean that I was never afraid I'm not your hero But that doesn't mean w e're not one and the same Feeling like I am now lighting up the hall I was used to standing in the shadow of a damaged heart Learning all I know now, losing all I did I never used to feel like I'd be standing so far ahead Sometimes it feels what I recovered you lost Sending your peaceful loss to me I'm not their hero But that doesn't mean that I wasn't brave I never walked the party line Doesn't mean that I was never afraid I'm not your hero But that doesn't mean we're not one and the same Sometimes it feels like the side that I'm on Plays the toughest hand, holds the longest stand Sometimes it feels like I'm all that they've got It's so hard to know I'm not what they want I'm not their hero But that doesn't mean that I wasn't brave I never walked the party line Doesn't mean that I was never afraid I'm not your hero But that doesn't mean we're not one and the same I do my best to walk the finest line Till I've had all that I can take