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What a Difference Five Years Makes
Five years ago, on the weekend of my son Julian's 13th birthday, he and I went to the White House. President Obama was commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and I was lucky enough to be invited. The experience of being at the White House and seeing the president speak was enthralling for us. The room was packed with several hundred activists, elected officials, and numerous dignitaries.
Despite the wattage, everyone there jockeyed to position Julian, the youngest person in the room, so that the president would see him first when he finished his speech. It worked.
The president locked eyes on Julian, thrust out his hand, clasped Julian's shoulder and said, "How ya doing little buddy?" For my teenage, bi-racial, African-American identified son, it was an electric moment.
Yesterday, June 30, due to the kismet of my longevity and pure luck, we got a replay. The Obama administration was commemorating LGBT Pride month. This time it was me, my partner of 21 years and wife of six years, Sandy, and the now 18-year-old Julian.
http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/07/01/op-ed-what-difference-five-years-makes
Sandy Holmes, Julian, Kate Kendell and a couple familiar pooches during Monday's visit to the White House.
