Marriage v Civil Union

GOSH! You guys are a tough crowd! So many views yet no one will comment. Be brave!

Today I had a discussion with a coworker who is thinking of getting married. After listen to his thoughts he asks me if Id ever thought of getting married. I replied, "I would if I could". He asked why I couldn't. I told him gay marriage wasn't legal in Michigan. He says they are in Florida.

Pause. It never dawned on me how little people know about our world so for my straight and ally readers I wanna break it down.

First and foremost, gay marriage is not legal in Florida. Second a marriage and a partnership or civil union are totally different things. When you decide to get married you are seen as husband and wife. These titles hold so much significance. Its a bond to stay together for eternity. Its a symbol of your love to one another. Your no longer recognized as a you but a they.

We don't get that. We are taxed as a couple but we are not wife and wife or husband and husband. We become two "yous" that never reach a plural form. When we have kids theirs one name on the birth certificate. Depending on the state were in our union might not even be recognized.

Its just not the same. Marriage is like the first place trophy, a civil union is the participation ribbon and its not at all based on us. Its some slap in the face by a society that yells at least we gave you something. But its not enough, do you understand?

Put yourself in our shoes..... That lovely wife and those gorgeous kids, the fact that if anything ever happens to you they will still be taken care.... Imagine that was nothing but a dream.... Then tell me you'd still accept it.

Happy Coming Out Day!!!

Coming Out Day is a national holiday that's celebrates the coming out of the closet as LGBT persons. Its a day to help others on their journey to being able to be loud and proud. Its a day to share stories of people that are already out. Its a day to build hope and pride by letting people new to this community know that it gets better and if they have no one else they have a friend in is. Rather important a day in my book!

I've told my coming out story over and over again BUT if you still haven't heard it, click that link! This year I'm gonna do something different.... I want you to share your story with me and my readers. Who will be brave enough to share?

Gay-Parenting: Rights & Not-So-Rights

I dont' know how many of you know but I have a 4-year-old daughter and I recently sat her down and explained my sexuality to her. Now some of you might say shes a little young and I didn't have to do it just yet but 4 is an impressionable age and I decided to tell her before someone else gave her the impression that how I'm living is wrong. Before I tell you guys of my experience with that conversation I wanna know how you told your kids or how you would of done it i you had children.

How would you have explained it?

When would you have told them?

Gender Identity Crisis

My first request comes from a very dear friend of mine on gender identity. Shes looking to be a dancer but she chooses to identify as a stud and the industry doesn't accept that. Auditions call for women to bring heels and head shots must have makeup. That's just not her! So should she conform to what they want just to get those parts or should she be her knowing that will cost her?

I personally feel that she should identify as her but dance and audition with the men. How possible is that to do, Ive no idea because I'm not in the dance industry. Or better yet find a stud dancer thats been in her shoes and ask advice. But I'm definitely no expert!

Let us know what you think about the whole subject!

PERSONAL UPDATE

Hey guys!!!! I've missed you all! I've been away for a minute but I just wanted to let you guys know what Im up too...

I guess the biggest deal is that I've started the long process of explaining my sexuality to my four year old daughter. Which Im pretty proud of myself for....

I've started writing for examiner.com which is an online paper based in Detroit. My title is Detroit LGBT Arts Examiner so check out my articles if your on the site.

I've also started working but am still looking for a career job so if you know of  anyone looking for an LGBT Journalist or Graphic Designer send them my way.

I've also cut all my hair off for those of you that are naturalists! lol and have taken to dressing a little more masculine then usual...

Umm.... With all that being said I've got a lot of request topics and personal topics coming your guys way! So definitely stay tuned and speak up! Knowledge is definitely power and we are all in this together!

<3

Olympics ReCap

A couple of weeks ago I posted a list of 18 out and proud Olympians, did you watch their performances? Upon further research 5 gay athletes were added to the list. How did we do?

Seimone Augustus brought home GOLD with the US Womens Basketball team, as did Megan Rapinoe with the US Soccer team and Carl Hester, a Great Britain equestrian. Marilyn Agliotti, Carlien Dirkse van den Heuval, Maartje Paumen and Kim Lammers also took GOLD with the Netherlands field hockey team.

Judith Arndt took SILVER for Germany in cycling. Edward Gal took BRONZE as a Netherlands equestrian as did Lisa Raymond for US Tennis.

Out of 23 athletes, 10 medaled. If Team Gay were an actual team that would place them right above the Czech Republic with 24th place overall. All in all I think THAT is something for the LGBT community to be proud of.

I found this.