Fighting Upwind

I always try to go upwind when I go out in a boat. Kayak, row boat, canoe- doesn't matter. Upwind makes the ride home easy. I push myself as hard as I can, then when my arms are rubber, turn around and drift easy.

Del Martin, one of the bravest lesbian civil rights pioneers, died yesterday. She had been married two months.

She knew what it was like to push upwind, for decades.

Until 2003, the historic decision handed down by the Massachusetts court, I imagined I would maybe someday, when I was very old, I would see marriage equality happen in our country.

Not only has it happened, it's flourished. Now I can imagine, in the next ten years, federal recognition for our marriages.

Del fought for years. Trying to explain, over and over, being a homosexual was not a crime. It was not a horrible affect. It was simply who she was. The pictures and video of her wedding, she seemed slightly annoyed with all the attention. I can only imagine a lifetime of working hard against the current boiled down to a single "I do" would be frustrating.

She did so much more.

As we tune in tonight to the convention to listen to Obama speak, let's take a moment to appreciate another long, upwind battle. The first African-American man is going to be the democratic nominee for President.

There are ways in which our community, the LGBT and the African-American community, have struggled against the same winds, and times we have fought very different battles. To label our fights as one and the same would be a slight to both communities, but we have weathered many storms where the wind, the sea, the waves were a common foe.

May Del Martin rest in peace, able to turn and glide now.

And for the next two months? It's time to fight the same wind and get the first Black man in this country elected.

Stupid Question for the DNC

I would like to ask a question... why won't the DNC let Michigan and Florida re-vote?

It is reminiscent of HRC's negative scoring of Legislators who did not vote yes for the sexual orientation only ENDA bill. They did not play by the big boys rules. Now they are being penalized.

In other words, HRC is cutting off it's nose to spite it's face. Ok, we hear how powerful you are.

The DNC is doing the same thing. Michigan and Florida... naughty, naughty, they bucked the system, thumbed their noses at the powers that be.

Rogue states.

Michigan and Florida deserve to be heard. Especially Florida. have they not been dissed enough in elections?

And with those "two states added in, Obama's total vote lead shrinks from 700,000 to about 70,000."

Yes, I am personally motivated because my candidate will benefit greatly from a re-vote. These are KEY states in a November election. I think as a party, we need to know who can win them. what the demographics are. how this plays in a national election.

As a Democrat, I would pony up some money to help pay for a re-vote in those two states.

Why isn't it happening?

I know... stupid question but... still... I want to know why?