Hey Straight DUers, I Have To Have A Word With You...

[DonRedwood]

On this hot and beautiful Friday evening, with a lovely weekend stretching ahead of my partner and I, I am feeling truly blessed.

Not because of the deaths of DOMA and DADT, not because we have a President who, though maybe not always jumping up and down in support of gay rights, seems to somehow work behind the scenes to get things done without ever really talking about it much, but because I have found a group of straight people who stand so amazingly firm in support of gay Americans that it brings tears to my eyes.

Grannies from the South, weightlifters from Texas, moms who like ice sports, just so many amazing people who have taught me a thing or two about standing up for myself.

Thank you DU for being so staunch in your support of your gay members. I can speak freely and demand my rights because I have the strength of you people behind me. You all are teaching me how to do it.

I remember during the gay rights ballot initiatives here in the 80s. Heartbreaking to see so much hate aimed at gay people, especially when you are that young and trying to figure things out. And then one day I saw a "straight but not narrow" sticker on some cool dude's car and I burst into tears just being so grateful that someone decent had the guts to speak up. That's how you people make me feel every day.

Thank you very much straight people of DU. Your thoughtful support of LGBT people is truly special. In my life you are the Sun that balances out the darkness of the other side. I'd bet there are many gay DUers who would agree with me.

A beautiful weekend to you. May we all eat something delicious, see something beautiful and snuggle up to something (or one) that we love.

[MotherPetrie]

1. K&R and back atcha!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. What a beautiful message DR. You have a beautiful weekend as well ! nt

[orpupilofnature57]

3. Proud to be GLAD .

Because of beautiful people like you .

[UTUSN]

4. You're welcome and may ALL of our COALITION group/members stay SOLIDARITY!1 n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. You might be surprised how many of us belong to PFLAG.

[DonRedwood]

6. But, but, you're just a grrrrrl ! :0)

Ah...that explains a LOT. Don't stir up the PFLAG mamas!!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

115. I wish there was a similar organization for children of LGBT parents.

Speaking as someone who is incredibly proud of her black gay father!

[DonRedwood]

148. well...start one! usually that is more effective than wishing!

I even know a few people I would send to your group!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

149. Not a bad idea. I'll have to look into this more...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

7. Great post

One quibble: straight or gay, it's too damned hot for anyone to snuggle up with anyone else.

Seriously, thank you for your post. Have a great weekend.

[DonRedwood]

9. even this?

[mythology]

23. It's never too hot to curl up with a cat

Our feline overlords deserve our absolute surrender to their whims.

[Arugula Latte]

50. I woke up the other night sweating like a pig and thinking I had a high fever.

Then I realized, no, it was my Fuzzy Overlords snuggling up against me that had made me so warm. But, The Overlords must not be disturbed. So I toughed it out.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

116. Mine sleeps with me every night. She seems to love the fan. She keeps me safe and helps me sleep!

[Arugula Latte]

117. Mine do too. Many times I've had three. I love it during the winter (except that I can't move much)

but when it gets warm, those little critters are like ovens. But I still love it.

[TxDemChem]

8. We just want equality for all

We will keep forging ahead in the fight for your rights!

[DonRedwood]

11. Things like that mean even more when they are coming from Texas!

Thank you! It gives us great solace knowing there are still some Texas Democrats left! And, I truly mean it when I say I'll be supporting y'all down there in the next couple of elections as Texas turns purple then blue. :0)

[TxDemChem]

18. Thank you kindly.

We could sure use more dem power here!

[babylonsister]

10. So nice! And thank you!

[Gregorian]

12. Thanks! And by the way, I don't even like marriage, but I celebrate your ability to choose.

I've spent my life single. But I can get joy from the happiness that you experience now that you share it. So thanks for lifting my life a little higher.

[DonRedwood]

14. I was single for 40 years.... that ended in a heartbeat.

We all just want good company, I figure. I hope you have some of that! (oh, you're here... then you DO have some of that! :0)

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Hey, not supporting other human beings

Is kind of out of the question in my book.

[MrScorpio]

15. For a lot of us, I imagine, this is a personal matter

It is for me.

I want my gay and lesbian family members, who I deeply love, to have all of their rights in this country.

[Mr.Bill]

16. I've actually been considering going to SF to join the party

and I'm not even gay. That city is gonna rock all weekend and beyond.

I'm only 100 miles north.

[closeupready]

17. As someone with maybe total TWO straight friends IRL,

many others online, I have to agree that it's been gratifying to watch people like David Boies and Eric Schneiderman and Obama and Hillary Clinton give us in the GLBT community such public support as time as passed.

Even some who consider themselves Republican have been elated at this ruling - I suppose because they hate religious fundies of ANY kind as much as many of us do, and their medieval attitudes about just about everything.

At any rate, I give this a hearty K&R.

[jazzimov]

19. Thanks! And I enjoy celebrating! But it was for selfish reasons...

I'll admit, I was homophobic for the first part of my life - because I was LIED to by the people I trusted. It only became clear to me when I started talking and LISTENING to my LGBT friends. That was when I realized that my beliefs were based on LIES. Or, at least, people who believed the same LIES I did.

So, really, it is for personal reasons that I am happy of the new rulings - for one thing, IT'S ONLY FAIR! And fairness and equality affects ALL of us!

So, yes, this new ruling is a strong blow for the LGBT community, but it is also a strong blow for ALL of us!

EDIT TO ADD: Spoken as a true red-headed step-child.

[Politicub]

39. All that matters is that you're an ally now!

and that means the world to many of us.

Thank you.

[DonRedwood]

70. I'm glad you were paying attention!

A lot of people who stayed in the little town I was raised in, never did learn. They still believe all the lies even though they know me. I'm the "exception" to their rules about gays. very sad.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. Seems like he's jumping up and down in support of LGBT rights to me. He's now in Africa, which

is not necessarily friendly to LGBT, trying to push for LGBT rights.

This president has done more to support LGBT rights than any modern leader I know besides Milk.

[Politicub]

40. It's remarkable how much Obama has done, isn't it?

He said the gay community would be pretty happy about his presidency. He wasn't kidding!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. But it'll never be enough. When Clinton signed DOMA into law, then went around the country

bragging about it, I never heard much from liberals. I've never witnessed the bashing of Clinton as I have of President Obama.

I think I know what's behind the disdain for this president, even though he has done more for LGBT equality than ANY president in the history of this great Republic. But I'll keep what I really think to myself.

[DonRedwood]

71. I absolutely agree. And on a nationwide level, maybe the most.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

103. I think he has clearly done the most...

Here's the latest:

Fast. New Obama admin memo provides 5 new benefits for legal spouses, children, after DOMA ruling http://s.shr.lc/125bobk @WashingtonBlade

U.S. Office of Personnel Management has instituted new guidance for married gay federal employees in the wake of the DOMA court ruling . . .

The memorandum, dated June 28 and signed by OPM acting director Elaine Kaplan, identifies five new areas of benefits that will be available after the court decision for the legal spouses as well as newly qualified children and stepchildren of gay federal employees.

“There are numerous benefits that are affected by the Supreme Court’s decision, and it is impossible to answer every question that you might have,” Kaplan, a lesbian, writes. “Nevertheless, I want to assure you that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is committed to working with the Department of Justice to ensure swift and seamless implementation of the court’s ruling.”

The five new benefits identified in the memo are:

• health insurance through the Federal Health Employees Benefits (FEHB) plan;

• life insurance through the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program;

• dental and vision insurance through the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP);

• long-term care insurance under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP);

• retirement benefits;

• and the ability to submit claims for medical expenses through flexible spending accounts.


read more: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/06/28/opm-lays-out-post-doma-plan-for-fedl-employee-benefits/

[bbkenn92]

112. I agree. President Obama has been an amazing advocate for gay rights!

Way more than Clinton.

[arcane1]

21. And we thank ye gay DUers for keeping us on our toes! And...

And for leading by example in the biggest civil rights struggle of my lifetime!

(I was -3 years old when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed )

When I see how many cards were stacked against you, even quite recently, and then see how much you have accomplished in such a short time, with so much loud opposition, I am INSPIRED!!"

A toast to my gay brothers and sisters!!!!!!!

[Voice for Peace]

22. well guess who the straight people have been learning from

[pnwmom]

82. +1. n/t

[cprompt]

24. congrats

And sorry it took so damb long. Now for every state...

[Generic Brad]

25. Now maybe we can move past sexuality labels

We're all just people looking for love at the end of the day.

[bluestate10]

26. To me there is no such thing as "gay rights". It all boils down to human rights. No sane society

ever discriminates against people because of who they were born as and had no choice but to be what they are. Being gay is a condition of birth endowed by nature, not a choice that gay people made.

[DonRedwood]

72. bluestate...just your comment alone is exactly what I am talking about.

You think we hear anything supportive on a daily basis? Many of us hear terrible things with nothing to balance it. DU is so unlike the rest of the world...vocal, supportive, territorial. :0) You all draw a line in the sand and say 'Don't cross my gay friends".

I just wish every gay teenager in America spent a month on DU... there sure the hell wouldn't be so many suicides.

[idwiyo]

88. +1 Universal Human Rights. It's that simple.

[riqster]

92. Damn skippy.

Well said.

[olddots]

27. thankyou Don

progress is about equality and we have a long way to go but together nothing will stop us .

[Cha]

28. You're Welcome! Mahalo to you, DonRedwood

for being such a strong advocate yourself and for expressing your thoughts so beautifully on DU.

And, thank you for acknowledging and appreciating President Obama's advocacy for GLBT Rights.

Aloha, to you and yours

[Smarmie Doofus]

29. I agree. The most admirable kind of politics is on display when people stand up for other people...

... ON PRINCIPLE.

Without expecting to get or gain anything materially for themselves. K and R.

[riqster]

30. Happy for you.

Back when I had long hair, smoked grass and played rock and roll, people gave me shit, because I wasn't "normal".

You never forget being an "other", and anytime I see someone being dehumanized, it takes me right back to my misspent (and wonderfully so) youth. And I get hugely, massively, righteously honked off. (And I'm still an "other" to lots of bigoted people. Fuck 'em.) So we owe it to our fellow travelers to have each others' backs.

We are all, as George Carlin said, little hunks of protoplasm walking around: and we all deserve some dignity and respect. Here's to you and yours on this special weekend.

[arcane1]

33. Right there with you, riqster!

[riqster]

42. No wine smiley, so...

[arcane1]

55. We really need a wine smiley!

[riqster]

56. Oh, agreed.

I can't drink much these days (damned doctors), so a wine (and perhaps a Scotch) smiley are needed for the codgers amongst us!

[arcane1]

63. Indeed, that's a great reason. Another great reason is that beer sucks!

[riqster]

64. Depends on where it's from.

A nice Porter or Stout can cure most ails. Old Peculier is my fave, but it's hard to find, and it's not on my diet anyway.

As for American beer, it's like the Englishman said when he first tasted Budweiser: "Oh my God, man, put it back in the horse!"

[awoke_in_2003]

31. A lot of us stand with you. nt

[caseymoz]

32. K&R

[Hydra]

34. Your rights are our rights

Literally. I've been the target of discrimination because people assumed I was gay. Funny enough, that pretty much stopped as being gay became increasingly acceptable.

I've also seen the level of general freedom increase as the LBGTQI community gains ground. It's good for all of us, and we should all continue to fight for it.

[DonRedwood]

73. Sadly, not everyone feels that way!

[a la izquierda]

35. Thanks for posting.

I'm straight but my mom is a lesbian and my uncle is gay. The death of DOMA means so much to me.

[DonRedwood]

74. DOMA was such an insult to the children of all those families.

Pleased to stand up with you!

[a la izquierda]

140. Likewise.

Now, my mom always said she was happy I was the oldest, because if anyone ever tried to bar her partner of decades from, say, a hospital room, I'd pull everything in my power as her executor to tell them to take a hike.
Now, it looks as though someday she can marry her partner (she lives in NJ, so who knows with fuckface Christie). At any rate, this is a monumental step forward for my gay and lesbian relatives, friends, and countrymen.

[DonRedwood]

150. We travel with copies of our domestic partnership in case we have to fight

all of our inlaws are down in the deep red parts of the country....scary to go see them knowing my hubby could be barred at the hospital door of something happens.

[closeupready]

108. Wow. I can only imagine - for me of course,

it's personal, since I'm gay - but to see it from your perspective... Very touching.

[a la izquierda]

141. Thanks.

One day, a new friend of mine asked why I was so virulently anti-Republican. I explained that two of the most important people in my life suffered because of socially conservative extremists, and she understood completely. Her sister is a lesbian.

Cheers and here's to moving forward!

[AAO]

36. I hate people that stick their noses into other peoples business.

So many hateful, bigoted people in this country. Luckily the good people outnumber the bad. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts, and now that DOMA is dead, I'm hoping as the bigots continue to die off, their children will learn the truth about human sexuality, and gender identity issues and things will get better and better. There's still a ways to go for LGBT people to get full equal rights in America, and I will do everything in my power to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Why can't people just LOVE and not be so hateful?

[applegrove]

37. "straight but not narrow". I love that. That is me.

[DevonRex]

38. ...

Thank you.

[summer-hazz]

41. This is such

a sweet note...
Im so happy for all who fought so hard, and so long....

Congratulations, and may we all be changed for the better!!!

[DonRedwood]

75. A hearty welcome to DU!

Welcome! We are very glad to have you join up!

[summer-hazz]

84. Thank you for the welcome

I am happy to be here!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. I'm black. I'm a woman. And I'm straight. And I stand with LGBT!! Human rights!!!!!!

[DonRedwood]

76. And I'll return that favor anytime!!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

105. Indeed!!

[Rooting for the Dems]

45. Wonderful Post

Wonderful post, wonderful week! As Markos at Daily Kos says from time to time..."this is what winning feels like"! Best to you and all!

[Tikki]

46. Not the same...We do understand, though. We married very young and not much...

support. None from Tikki's family..no one from her family attended her wedding.

But the best mother-in-law supported us and 47 years later here we are a couple
who support ALL loving and committed couples in their marriage.

So happy that LGBT rights are happening. Still more to do, though.

The Tikkis

[Norrin Radd]

47. kr

[Arugula Latte]

48. Sometimes it just takes one person to open someone's eyes.

When I was about 10 I had a friend my age who was really into theater in the Bay Area. She told me that she didn't understand why some people didn't like gay people because she knew a lot of them and they were all super nice. (This was the late 70s). I guess I was sheltered, because I'd never even heard the terms "gay" and "straight" at that point. I remember thinking, though: "Yeah, well, if people are nice, who cares? Why would anybody dislike a man because he likes men, or a woman because she likes woman?" That stayed with me always.

Celebrate good times. Come on.

[Eleanors38]

49. Thank you so much. Those compliments are rare and much cherished.

[DonRedwood]

77. THen I need to say thank you more often because I see reason to every day on here

Sometimes it is overwhelming to see so much support when terrible things are happening. DU is pretty supportive about so much, but I've noticed that gay rights are a subject that is fiercely defended. FIERCELY. It's beautiful to see.

[chknltl]

51. KnRnBookmarked

Nuff said

[vanlassie]

52. Well I just ate awesome Mexican food,

and the best thing I have seen in the last 24 hours was the rainbow SF City hall lit up (which I showed to my gay hairdresser who got engaged Wednesday and thrilled him too) and as far as snuggling... It was 103 degrees here at 6 pm so for that Ill take a raincheck! Congratulations!

[blackspade]

53. And thank you for having the courage to be who you are....

All members of the LGBT community should be proud of who they are.

[DeSwiss]

54. K&R

[alfredo]

57. I have a gay family member, so for me it is personal.

Saturday is our Pride Fest. I will join in the celebration of another step toward equality under the law.

[pnwmom]

68. I think everyone has a gay family member

somewhere in the extended family.

They just might not all be out. But give them time.

[dkf]

58. Seeing your happiness makes me happy!

[glinda]

59. Thank you. That was lovely!

[kestrel91316]

60. Once upon a time I had a gay cousin. He committed suicide in 1978,

though I don't know why.

But I can guess.

I'm here because I was too young then to stand up for him. I no longer have any excuse.

[DonRedwood]

78. My best friend did the same in 1980

We'd never got to a gay discussion, but I too have my suspicions.

[redwitch]

61. How nice of you Don!

But it is just the right thing to do. Mostly people are pretty decent and kind and it IS heartening to be reminded of that occasionally. We read and hear so much about people behaving badly that we forget.

[TuxedoKat]

62. What a lovely post

Thank you.

[nolabear]

65. Aw Baby, you brought tears to my eyes.

Ain't no thang, you know, just being the way people were meant to be before fear showed up and warped some of us.

I can't think of a non weird way of saying this so I'll just say it. My gay and lesbian and questioning and trans friends make the world a better place. I'm privileged to know so many who fight every single day for the right not to hate but to love.

[Th1onein]

66. :)

[Lugnut]

67. Have a wonderful weekend!

My husband and I have been married for over 46 years. My hope is that some day soon ALL loving couples can marry and shoot for the 50 year mark like we are. This granny is straight but not narrow.

[DonRedwood]

124. I might have made it to a 50 year anniversary but I made a grave mistake

My partner, whom I adore, and I are just at the 6 mark. But 16 years ago he asked me on a date and I told him no...because I thought he was waaaaay to young. Ten years later he asked me out again and I said yes. n By the end of the first date I knew.

I can't think of many regrets in my life but those ten years in between the first time he asked me and the second time he asked me. I have a feeling those years may be something I'm real sorry about.

But I'm just happy as a clam and will happily take each day as they come. Congrats to you on your 46. That is a truly beautiful thing!

[pnwmom]

69. Thank you for your post.

[DonRedwood]

79. You're one of those people I was thinking of when I wrote this.

:0)

[pnwmom]

81. Thank you, DonRedwood.

In this one area at least, our country HAS been going in the right direction, and everyone on DU is celebrating that.

[Fearless]

80. Agreed

Thank you to all of our allies who helped make this possible!

[tblue]

83. I thank you too.

I am not entirely sure that you aren't a greater gift to the rest of us, a lesson in love, compassion, and courage.

I am African American and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't reach out and embrace my LGBT brothers and sisters, just as good and decent white people fought for my civil rights.

I always think I should do more, but I thank you so much for your beautiful message. I am here always when the going gets rough. You just let me know. DU is so awesome. Watching The Daily Show and Bill Maher, I can tell there is growing, passionate support for equal rights. So happy. So proud.

[DonRedwood]

126. The AIDS crisis hit our community hard in the 80s

and the statistics said that black youth were next.

For me, growing up in small town America (we had one African American student being raised by a white family) black issues never came up. In my ignorance I thought the Civil Rights Movement had fixed everything. But when AIDS hit and gays were having to take to the streets in protests we started crying out that we needed to educate minority children immediately, it fell on deaf ears.

It was quite obvious to me that the Right Wing was perfectly happy to let the disease run its course through the gays and then the Black community. It was suddenly really obvious to this small town boy that things were not very equal at all.

That's when I joined the civil rights movement. Not my own fight, but the big fight. Before that AIDS was a gay fight for me, something grownups had to deal with, but suddenly all those inner city kids were at terrible risk. Getting the word out suddenly became about saving children and nobody had the resources or the knowledge except the gay people.

Sadly, so many of the gay people who were fighting that initial onslaught of the disease were gone within a few years. And wave after wave of death ripped through the gay community and the AIDS crisis grew big enough to demand attention, and then, Thank God, a Democrat became President and it became a national issue.

But I will never forget those early years when the gay people fought so hard to save inner city kids. It has never been discussed much because the people who were there to discuss it are mostly dead. But we had your back. Man oh man, did we have your back.

And that's how I learned the struggle is long and hard and won't be done during my lifetime. But this generation still has its work to do.

[tblue]

151. You are my hero!

Thank you for being so wonderful.

[Skittles]

85. aw THANK YOU Don

heck, I've been a supporter for decades - yes INDEED

[cali]

86. having your back is the least we could do.

[idwiyo]

87. K&R Its an honour and a duty, IMO. Thank you for your kind words, lots of hugs to you and

hope you have a great weekend too.

[mnhtnbb]

89. Well, we are family. Right? And we have sons, brothers, daughters, sisters, moms, dads, cousins...

whom we'd like to see treated equally--and who are gay--too. In my case? Both my sons
are gay and both have significant others in their lives. I hope to dance at their weddings
some day.

[DonRedwood]

127. WOw!

I sure the heck hope you do get to dance at their weddings! I hope my mom gets to dance at mine but we're still a domestic partnership state. :0( but she's only 78 and women her family live quite a long time so I'm hopeful.

[sarge43]

90. Thank you

[etherealtruth]

91. I support HUMAN RIGHTS

.... and equality for ALL.

No more, no less

[DCBob]

93. Nice post.

Refreshing to hear things like this on this site.

Cheers my friend.

[HockeyMom]

94. I went to school down the street from the Stonewall

and witnessed some very, very bad things growing up in the West Village in the 50s and 60s. My parents taught me you cannot look the other way when you see somebody being hurt, with words or with fists. If you do, you are just as guilty as they . We are all human beings, and Americans, with the same rights to live, love, and be who we are; black, white, gay, straight, male, or female.

Yes, I have a gay daughter, and relatives, but that doesn't really matter. I would feel the same if I didn't.

[DonRedwood]

128. Aha!! I knew from your posts you had a special connection on this issue

You are one of the people who always stands out to me on this issue.

Now we know why you are so cool! :0)

[hamsterjill]

95. Wow, thanks.

I've posted before how I grew up in an environment that hated gays but once I was old enough to get out on my own, I realized that I believed each person should have the right to live his/her life however they see fit, that real love is beautiful no matter who or what, and that all people are deserving of respect. I may not be expressing this very well here, but your post meant a lot to me simply because I'm proud of myself for not living with the closed mind attitudes that I was raised under. I grew as a person when I finally understood. So...thank you.

[DonRedwood]

129. :0) People who have the longest path see the most

I'm proud of you too. Many people never bother to learn their own lessons, see their own world. You have had to come farther than some, you've had to figure out your own way, and look at how that struggle turned you into...well...a diamond. You have thanks and admiration from me!

[bigtree]

96. love, baby

. . . it's all about love. How can anyone be against love?

More to the point, most folks recognize that their own rights as Americans don't mean spit while others are denied theirs. I'm damn glad we finally seem to be shedding the veils of ignorance and self-serving hatred and are embracing equality and unity as our national identity.

[DinahMoeHum]

97. Thanks, DR.

[WilliamPitt]

98. Wonderful message to greet the day with.

[DonRedwood]

130. No crying baby?

I was awoken by kitten attack.

But, I'm drinking coffee and reading responses, have cried several time, and, wow...just feel amazing having all you guys in my corner.

Sometimes it is the comments, not the OP that melts the heart.

[WilliamPitt]

142. Indeed.

[dembotoz]

99. celebrate this weekend, thank you for your message but your(our) fight is not over

despite what the clowns on the supreme court said on voter rights--the civil right movement still has miles to go
and with the LGBT fight your journey is still early.
You have a great victory but the bad guys are still out there and man are they pissed.
so just remember as the fight continues at least for me and I hope the rest of du


we got your back

[Ligyron]

100. Most families have members who are LGBT

The vast majority of folks are more progressive thinking on DU for sure, but once any average family of whatever political or social issue encumbrances realize that one of their own is a non-hetero. WOW, CD for sure.

Once they overcome the Cognitive Dissonance involved, which is usually resolved by deciding the LGBT community maybe ain't so awful after all, things get better. Usually.

This is especially so once they meet some of their family member's other LGBT friends. Easy to hate in the abstract but difficult once you know the individuals involved.

That fact that so many people have come out in the last 5 years really helped. I look forward to even more people coming out, which encourages even more to come out and the chain reaction this type of movement produces. It won't be all unicorns and puppies, there will be ugliness at certain times and in certain places and much more needs to be done legally; but things are definitely improving, moving in the right direction and there is just no stopping this train.

Thanks for your post, we all have much to celebrate in this!

[DonRedwood]

132. Welcome to DU!

We are very glad to have you here with us!

[lunatica]

101. What a wonderful post!

It was a gay person on DU who made me understand how painful it's been to be gay and still not have the rights that everyone else takes for granted. It was the Gay community who made this happen by educating those of us who would listen.

Thank you!

[Half-Century Man]

102. I have no idea how many gay people I've known.

For 3/5ths of my life, being out was fairly dangerous. The remaining 2/5ths,It just didn't matter so much cause things have been gradually getting better. All the way to where we are now, less than halfway to home.
The same with racism and the sexual equality. Religious equality. Where someone's feet might have first touched the Earth. What combinations of sounds someone might use to thank someone else. My point being, we have a lot of road left.
So Don Redwood, enjoy your respite in the roadside grass on this hilltop. Soak up the sunshine. Grab a little snuggle time. I think you deserve it. We'll see you presently further on down the road.

[walkerbait41]

104. Me and the Mrs.

Have your back

[DonRedwood]

133. Well, thank you very much! ANd welcome to DU!!

[Blanks]

106. While gays may be the ones who seem to immediately benefit from this...

It really is all of us that benefit. Just because marriages are recognized for same sex couples doesn't mean that only gay people benefit from it. This gives people the ability to take care of each other - to stand together against the world.

It is a human rights issue, it grants people the right to designate someone that is not family - as a family member.

Obviously, the majority of people who will benefit from it will be the LGBT community, but they will not be the only ones who stand to benefit.

It is a victory against health insurance companies.

[closeupready]

109. These are all really excellent points.

Even as someone gay, I hadn't thought of it in this way. Thank.

[RainDog]

107. you always have such kind and thoughtful posts

thank you for your spirit of goodwill and peace.

...and thank you for the kind words.

hugs to you.

[sabrina 1]

110. K&R

for a beautiful message and for a future without hate for all human beings:

[RKP5637]

111. K&R!!! K&R!!! K&R!!! K&R!!! K&R!!!

[Lunacee_2013]

113. K&R

Just got done talking with one of my gay friends about the demise of DOMA. It's gonna be a good weekend, isn't it?

[DonRedwood]

135. Absolutely! And a hearty welcome to DU!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

114. If I can't stand up for your rights.

I have no business keeping mine.

Great post, DonRedwood.

[Arugula Latte]

118. Don, another thing:

We women know that gay people have been stalwarts in the fight for reproductive rights, even though access to abortion doesn't necessarily affect a very large proportion of them personally.

So, I'd like to thank all the gay people who have fought the good fight for that on behalf of us "breeders."

We're stronger when we stick together!

[txwhitedove]

119. Lovely post. To the dismay or amusement of many co-workers, this southern granny has always

supported equal rights for all. You would be surprised in Texas. I've lived in small town-TX and met more LGBT persons than ever who were very much loved by all and a big part of their communities.

Wishing you a beautiful and snuggly weekend too!

[DonRedwood]

136. I love grannies best!! Can't argue with a granny...just gotta say, "Yes'm" :0)

So, Yes'm!

[WillyT]

120. K & R !!!

Been fighting the darkness since the Briggs Initiative in 1978 and before...

Briggs Initiative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_Initiative

[Rebellious Republican]

121. This is my town, St. Petersburg, Fl. happening this weekend.

I am not gay, however I am proud of my town and many of my LGBT friends are having a great weekend here as we speak!

St Petersburg Mayor Signs First Proclamation and Accepts Stonewall Invitation

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 – With less than ten days until the start of the official LGBT Pride week in Tampa Bay, St Pete Pride’s Executive Director Eric Skains and Board President Aaron Horcha met with St Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster to receive the first LGBT Pride Proclamation signed by the Mayor of St Petersburg.

“Communication went multiple directions for the past few months to make today happen,” says Eric Skains, Executive Director of St Pete Pride. “The people of St Petersburg and Tampa Bay should be extremely grateful to live in a community so accepting of diversity.”
http://www.stpetepride.com/news/st-petersburg-mayor-signs-first-proclamation-and-accepts-stonewall-invitation/


All Eight St Petersburg City Council Members Sign LGBT Pride Month Proclamation

St Petersburg, FL, Thursday, June 13, 2013 – Mid-way through LGBT Pride Month, St Pete Pride is pleased to announce all eight members of St Petersburg City Council, which include Charlie Gerdes, Jim Kennedy, Bill Dudley, Leslie Curran, Steve Kornell, Karl Nurse, Wengay Newton, and Jeff Danner, have signed the LGBT Pride Month Proclamation for St Petersburg.

Council Member Jeff Danner, whose district the annual St Pete Pride events are primarily held, read aloud the proclamation which stated: “the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is inclusive of our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, nieces and nephews who contribute to making St Petersburg a beautiful place to live, work and play.” He concluded the proclamation by stating, “we the Members of St Petersburg City Council do hereby proclaim the month of June, 2013 LGBT Pride Month in St Petersburg and urge all citizens to join in eliminating discrimination in all forms, and to celebrate the diversity of our community.”

This is the first proclamation signed by all eight members of the St Petersburg City Council in St Pete Pride’s eleven year history.
http://www.stpetepride.com/news/all-eight-st-petersburg-city-council-members-sign-lgbt-pride-month-proclamation/

Celebrate Pride Month in Paradise

St. Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade
With the unfurling of a larger-than-life rainbow flag, the St. Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade kicks off annually the last Saturday in June.

During the Promenade, hundreds of contingents parade through seven blocks of downtown St. Pete’s Grand Central District. The Promenade spiritedly dissolves into the Street Festival, a block party that roars with live music, food and drink concessions, vendor exhibits and activities. Participation has swelled in recent years to nearly 90,000 fun-loving attendees.
http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/articles/celebrate-pride-month-paradise

[calimary]

146. NICE!

[Katashi_itto]

122. Cool, you all need to be as equal as anybody.

[wryter2000]

123. And thank you

Thank you for allowing us to share in the joy of what happened on Thursday and the weddings that are already happening (again!) in California.

Onward now, because we have to secure full equality in all the states.

[Rowdyboy]

125. Beautiful post-you express my feelings too...n/t

[DonRedwood]

137. Pity everyone doesn't have this kind of support, eh Rowdy?

Imagine how many gay youths would have no self esteem issues if they read DU every couple days.

[Greybnk48]

131. I wish you both a great weekend as well!

And congratulations AND it's about time. I wish my Uncle Frank was still alive to enjoy this. His nickname in his social circle was "The Queen of Pompano" for his wonderful parties according to his Obit. He was funny and cool and I miss him.

[Coyotl]

134. We need to get past this problem of attaching sexual labels to human beings

There are no straight or gay DUers, just DUers!

[prole_for_peace]

138. I had scotusblog up on one of my monitors at work

and my brother and I were emailing back and forth about everything happening. We are both straight but we both emailed each other at the same time that we were crying and then that made me cry more and I had to close my office door before someone noticed.

and even typing that just now made my eyes well up again.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

139. I've lost count of how many gay friends I have going back to 1972.

That's when I committed myself to a career in music. Working side by side with gays and straights, where gays often are the wittiest and most talented, I have had an up close and personal look at this fight going back decades.

My personal journey took me to England in 1972, which meant that I was out of the country for Watergate and Roe v Wade. What I find upsetting today is that so many battles that were won by the mid 70s are ongoing and never ending. I think we need each other when people's rights are being taken away. Whether it's voting, marrying, or birth control, there are extremists who want to control us.

I share your joy, and will be there in the future for civil rights for all of us. I hope compassion leads those of us divided on various issues to seek the better path and know who the real enemy is.

[Chaco Dundee]

143. I'm with you

I happen to be straight,and nobody ever gave me a hard time about that,so I can't imagine what you went through,but my support is with you and I envy your courage.

[Number23]

144. Damn, Don! This is the highest rec'd OP I've seen in months! Congratulations!

[DonRedwood]

147. Even cranky DU needs a Thank You every once in a while.

I thought the Supreme Court was gonna stomp on me this week...and the only thing that made me feel strong, was hearing the people on DU so firm and resolute. It gave me strength!

And thanks were in order.

:0)

[calimary]

145. "Straight but not narrow"! What a cool bumper sticker!

What a great slogan! Something we should maybe try to repeat a few times. Should be said, read, and spread!

Much love and many hugs to you and your partner, DonRedwood! Hope you have a great weekend - and light work-week ahead - then leading into yet another great weekend!