In those dark days as a kid getting called a faggot I never thought I would see a federal judge rule

[dsc]

this way. The finale of Beautiful People featured Simon having a dream where he is visited by himself 10 years in the future telling him of the changes in the UK. Simon doesn't take it to heart and neither would have I. If I visited myself back then and told me about today I wouldn't have believed myself either. Scotus will have the final say, but for today, victory is sweet. Even if my younger self never saw it coming.

[wryter2000]

1. I'm so happy to celebrate this with you

I couldn't stand the fact that my home was a host to such hatred. :bounce:

[Political_Junkie]

2. Oh, dsc.

You made me cry.
:hug:

[handmade34]

3. celebrating here...

we continue to hope that it gets better and better...

[Not Me]

4. I am sitting here in Orlando,

and celebrating as though I were in West Hollywood. This is huge.
Especially for Florida.
The same day that Prop 8 passed in CA, Amendment 2 passed in FL. It was one of the really hateful worded amendments that barred marriage or anything approximating it. And in FL, in order to repeal it, it requires a 60% super-majority. Not likely in my lifetime.

The overturn of Prop 8, especially the way it was framed, opens the door for a Supreme Court overturn of Florida's (as well as 30 other states') anti-equality constitutional amendments.

This is a day that will go down in glbt history.

[David Zephyr]

5. It's a great day.

And, dsc, while this road has only begun, please keep in mind that I've said from the beginning that this particular case and these two lawyers will be the final legal test for marriage rights, that this is the best way for us to secure our rights, that this case, these two lawyers, and the timing all along with the vile nature of the Prop 8 campaign, will be too big of a constitutional hurdle for Anthony Kennedy to overlook. He will be the deciding vote and he will rule with the four progressives that Prop 8 violates the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.

We will be victorious. No more ballot initiatives where our rights are subject to mob rule. This is and has always been about equal protection under the law.

This victory comes on the shoulders of so much patient hard work all these many years by GLBT activists on so many fronts, so many dimensions who made differences in people's lives and perceptions. It's a wonderful day.

[mitchtv]

6. you and me both,dsc

thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of all of us, you too david Z . It's been a long haul, by no means over, but we won one, a big one,Love to all.( I meant to answer the Op)

[David Zephyr]

7. I have friends in Palm Spring in their nineties who were arrested for "being queer"

I also had a dear friend who languished in jail in Laguna Beach in the 1950's for months. I wish he were alive today. Thanks to you, too, mitchtv for all you've done all these years. The culture has changed and this case, these two lawyers and clear violation of the Equal Protection Clause makes me very confident in how this will ultimately end. We will be victorious.

[dsc]

8. I hope none of your friends were caught up in that sting we read about lately

I think of my uncle who was openly gay in the 50's and can't imagine what he would think if he were alive today. I admit to still be worried about the current SCOTUS but given that these lawyers are known for appelate and not trial work I am amazed at just how great these lawyers were at the trial work.

[mitchtv]

9. the DA lost his job

he got crushed in Palm Springs. I live outside so I can't vote but I say Police Chief is next

[dsc]

10. good I do hope the police chief is next

[PanoramaIsland]

11. Same! I would never have thought that there might be light at the end of this tunnel

when I was a kid. I still wonder if there's a light at the end of my other "tunnel" - I'm trans as well as queer - but even if we only see full acceptance of LGB folks and not T folks in my lifetime, that will still be half my (our!) battle won.

[HillWilliam]

12. I remember way back, my granddad used to subscribe to Life magazine

When I was about 13, maybe 14, there was a short article about a small church in San Francisco that was starting to perform Holy Unions for gay couples. I remember how my breath caught in my throat, seeing two very handsome young men holding hands, dressed so neatly in tuxes with boutonnières affixed, standing before the minister. I thought, "well maybe if I can survive my teens in the NC mountains without getting killed or maimed, someday, just someday too I can get the fuck out of here and find respect. If I'm very, very lucky, maybe love."

Marriage was completely unobtainable in my mind. I see light now.

After 25 years of wandering the world, I've returned to NC with the love of my very life by my side (almost 15 years now). We had a wonderful commitment ceremony last year with our friends around. We cooked for a week, he and I, and all of us ate too much and had a fantastic time. This year, we're going up to DC to make it legal.

I hope that before my lifetime ends, our marriage, when it happens, will be recognized in NC, too.

Without hope, I got nuttin'. It got me out of the holler. It got me through a couple of abusive relationships, physically and mentally healed now. I'm counting on it to take us together to a place of dignity together.