New Toy!

Those of you that know me well will probably be surprised to hear that I did not have a digital camera - until now. What a wonderful purchase, too. Here are a couple pictures that I've always wanted to be able to take.

Enjoy!

Taken from the parking structure right after work


Taken on the way to some shopping

Why Do (Some) Straights Hate Gay People?

I confess, clearly the novelty of having a blog has worn out a little. But at least it gave me an opportunity to express myself during a regrettable point in Wisconsin's recent history. (Did you do your part? Have you continued to do your part?)

Below is an excerpt from an op-ed that appeared in the L.A. Times. I agree with some of the points raised in this letter when it comes to SOME straight people. It would be most unfair to judge ALL the same. The letter expresses little hope - but even during these challenging times there is hope for us ALL: gay, straight, bi, trans, intersex, whichever you may be.

You see, we do have straight allies fighting alongside and leading us in our journey to equality. We need each other. If you think otherwise then perhaps you should look inward and re-evaluate your feelings and beliefs.

Yes: some straight allies have hidden agendas and aspirations. This affects the feelings some people may have of straight allies as a whole. I guess we need allies with hidden agendas too. Can't have progress without them as well, I suppose..

What do we do to you that is so awful? Why do you feel compelled to come after us with such frightful energy? Does this somehow make you feel safer and legitimate? What possible harm comes to you if we marry, or are taxed just like you, or are protected from assault by laws that say it is morally wrong to assault people out of hatred? The reasons always offered are religious ones, but certainly they are not based on the love all religions proclaim.

Too quiet..

December 1, 2006 has come and gone. Too quietly. On this snowy Wisconsin day, election results are now official here. No fanfare. No rallies, no press conferences, nothing. Just acceptance of a new reality, and I have to wonder how many people out there are feeling betrayed and forgotten.

Let's recap some excerpts from Wisconsin's Constitution, amended thanks to the official election results:

Preamble
We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this constitution.


Equality; inherent rights
Article I Section 1. All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; to secure these rights, governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.


Marriage
Article XIII Section 13. Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.

Yes - little has changed. Marriage is as it was. Hetero couples, gay couples, single-parent households, child-less couples, foster parents, yes.. all continue to live as they were.

However, now a specific group of people among Wisconsin's citizens can be legally discriminated against because "look-alike marriages" such as civil unions are now banned. A civil union is one of those legal statuses identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals. It is a legal status which is separate and somewhat equal to marriage.

(umm.. is a couple which only pursues civil marriage in a look-alike marriage?)

Anyway, civil contracts between two gay people in a long-term relationship are now banned because certain Christian individuals felt their religious institution needed protection. I wonder when foolish decisions, domestic violence, adultery... REAL threats such as these to ANY relationship are addressed by these same Christian individuals. Let's not forget about accidental pregnancies. No: instead they seemingly choose to obsess over who makes up a couple in a long-term, committed relationship and interfere in their lives.

At a time when religious and political leaders are falling from grace due to scandal after scandal, when will they just leave the people around them alone to pursue happiness without banning automatic rights and privileges granted by the stroke of a pen on a marriage license?

While we're at it, lets look over some definitions from Webster's dictionary:

homosexual
Of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex.

heterosexual
Of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward the opposite sex.

bisexual
Of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward both sexes.

pedophilia
Sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object.

polygamy
Marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time.

marriage
(1) : The state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. (2) : The state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage. (same-sex marriage)

None of the above declare marriage to be a civil contract and a religious institution. Pedophilia and homosexuality clearly are not a package deal. But sure enough, the people of Wisconsin have spoken. One can only hope that in time, we the people will reconsider what we've done and act accordingly. One thing is certain: its only a matter of time.

Dane County had a 33% difference between the No and Yes vote. Clearly Madison requires little focus with regards to enlightening its people on civil rights. Perhaps forward thinking groups such as the Milwaukee 7 - with special pages in French, Spanish, German, and Chinese to boot - will help to draw people here that in time will demand change.

Now there's a thought..

Milwaukee 7 Y La Enmienda, Resumen Del Estado

En el Journal Sentinel hay un articulo sobre el Milwaukee 7 (en Ingles). Es una coalición de condados del sudeste de Wisconsin, creado para poner en marcha estrategias economicas para esta region. Los condados son: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, y Waukesha.

Pero como votó esta region en la enmienda que defina matrimonio y prohibe uniones civiles? A ver:

Rango	Voto	Condado	Votos 'No'	Votos 'Sí'
8	Y	Milwaukee	141,476 (45.05%)	172,568 (54.95%)
15	Y	Kenosha	19,558 (40.80%)	28,373 (59.20%)
22	Y	Walworth	12,650 (38.16%)	20,499 (61.84%)
33	Y	Ozaukee	14,915 (36.53%)	25,914 (63.47%)
35	Y	Racine	24,875 (36.19%)	43,868 (63.81%)
52	Y	Waukesha	55,079 (31.75%)	118,392 (68.25%)
70	Y	Washington	13,800 (26.26%)	38,742 (73.74%)

Hemos oído mucha discusión sobre el impacto de la enmienda. Ahora que esta aprobada, como afectara al sudeste del estado? Pues, con el tiempo ya veremos..


Notas:

• Dane fue numero uno en votando no (hmm.. no es sorpresa, la diferencia fue mas de 33%).
• La Crosse and Dane fueron los unicos condados que votaron no.
• En La Crosse, la diferencia entre sí y no era 16 votos.
• Florence terminó ultimo en la lista con 1,515 votando sí y 481 votando no.

Milwaukee 7 And The Amendment, State Summary

In the Journal Sentinel is an article about the Milwaukee 7. It is a coalition of counties in southeastern Wisconsin, created to discuss economic strategies for the region. The counties are: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha.

Let's take a quick look at how southeastern Wisconsin voted on the amendment that defines marriage and bans civil unions:

Rank	Vote	County	No Votes	Yes Votes
8	Y	Milwaukee	141,476 (45.05%)	172,568 (54.95%)
15	Y	Kenosha	19,558 (40.80%)	28,373 (59.20%)
22	Y	Walworth	12,650 (38.16%)	20,499 (61.84%)
33	Y	Ozaukee	14,915 (36.53%)	25,914 (63.47%)
35	Y	Racine	24,875 (36.19%)	43,868 (63.81%)
52	Y	Waukesha	55,079 (31.75%)	118,392 (68.25%)
70	Y	Washington	13,800 (26.26%)	38,742 (73.74%)

There has been much debate about the amendment's impact. Will its passage affect southeastern Wisconsin economically? We'll just have to wait and see on that one..


Side notes:

• Dane tops the vote no list (hmm.. no surprise, with over a 33% difference).
• La Crosse and Dane were the only two counties to vote no.
• In La Crosse, the difference between yes and no was 16 votes.
• Florence ends the list with 1,515 yes and 481 no votes.