the dot connection in new mexico

We took the Rapid Ride to Pridefest on Saturday, then caught the 66 bus back down Central. More examples of how using public transporation can move us away from insulation and towards connection--and not just with those who are very like us--which is who most of us tend to connect with in our social affiliations, but with whoever happens to be there in the very public space that is the city bus.

Waiting for the bus on the way back, a man who was also waiting spoke with us. He told us he'd been living on the streets for three days. He identified himself as Navajo, and showed us his ID from Shiprock. He asked, "Wasn't there some kind of parade here today, a gay parade?" When we told him yes, and that we'd been there, he told us that he has a cousin who is gay, told us his name, as if we might know him.

concerning a domestic partner benefits bill and opposing a DOMA, there were a few stellar, supportive democrats (in some key legislative committees), during the new mexico 2005 legislative session. however, should either the DOMA or the domestic partnership bills have made it to the floor, there likely wouldn't have been the needed support from a large enough number of democrats to defeat the DOMA or pass the DP bill. that's why it is amazing and great news (thanks in large part to a few active and devoted queer democrats Robert Adams, Lynn Perls and others) to see that the Democratic Party of New Mexico adopted the following resolution last Sunday:

hmm, after reading this i wonder if the ban of same-sex marriage was motivated by gay rights advocates freaking out that their civil union bill may not pass in the 11th hour or if it really was just bigoted legislators introducing things at the last minute. none-the-less, if you introduced the bill, you always have the ability to pull it. i guess some could argue that it would be a shame to pull a bill after getting it this far. or is it a shame? simply by going with civil unions (instead of marriage equality) it says you're making a compromise. you are saying for now, it's a good thing in order to make forward progress on gaining some rights. but to allow the ban of same-sex marriage in the same bill as your civil unions, may not be such a good idea...i guess we'll see how that plays out in the long run.

last week, i commented on the ELCA's resolutions and was disappointed that was the best they could do. this week, i see they're at it again. and the dialogue looks much more promising.

ELCA Council Drafts, Forwards Three Resolutions on Homosexuality
Jeff R. Johnson, University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley, Calif., and
Jeannine Janson, San Francisco, co-chairs of Good Soil, presented a
petition with more than 1,200 signatures. "We ask the Church Council
to put forward resolutions that will remove all policy obstacles for

there is no one "sane" voice on gay marriage. a year ago i would have said -- ick -- marriage for gay people. who wants it? who cares? when all of a sudden on feb 20, 2004 our whacky, republican, sandoval county clerk started issuing marriage licenses to same gender couples. 64 same-gender couples got married and as you can imagine it threw a kink into our already nicely running campaign to protect the human rights act from being repealed (which added lgbt protections and was passed in 2003).

there was a quick emergency meeting to figure it all out, and at that meeting two of my friends (and fellow activists) decided to have their ceremony right there. it was that wedding that galvanized my commitment toward working for marriage equality. i was fortunate enough to film their ceremony and i still cry every time i watch it. everyone should have the choice to marry and get the same rights, responsibilities and protections that the state and federal marriage laws provide for. and it's clear that there are a number of other view points out there. that's why when i see libertarians say things like "both sides" it boggles my mind a bit.

my, how one's perspective changes throughout time. i grew up in the "missouri synod lutheran church" and we used to say that those other synods were so far (insert left, liberal, progressive) that we could hardly see why they would call themselves lutheran. after i left that religion, (because i'm a lesbian and considered evil for it) i would joke that the ELCA was the enlightened sect of lutherans. after reading this post, it scares me if this is the most support the enlightened ones can muster:
Theologians Urge ELCA to Support Proposal on Homosexuality - Theologians Urge ELCA to Support Proposal on Homosexuality ELCA NEWS SERVICE Ap [LGBT Religious News]