“With this, I thee wed…”

As Election Day draws nigh, I can’t help but politicize things. We’re on the cusp of having the first African-American president, something I never thought possible in my lifetime. Someone who, by comparison, would like to do something for gays and lesbians even though states tend to deal with the topic of gay marriage as opposed to making it a federal issue.

With that in mind, I have to share that I was at The Day Job when one of my favorite students came in and said that even though he’s a broke art student with very little money to his name, he felt that he HAD to donate $100 to California proposition, No on 8. As a gay man, who is in love with his partner, committed to his partner and wants to spend the rest of his life with his partner, why shouldn’t that be available to him?

I honestly don’t understand those who oppose marriage get so hung up on the word: marriage. Especially as it pertains to gay folk who want to join in on and wed their potential spouse. Divorce rates are up over 50% at this point (and that’s among you straight heterosexuals, btw), but for whatever reason, the thought of two men who love one another to death, and want to spend the rest of their lives fucking the shit out of each other in a committed marriage threatens or has any impact whatsoever on them. I just don’t get it.

Which is why when said student came to me and asked if I’d not just participate in his impending nuptials before the threat of them being ripped away and pummeled to the ground, but to officiate over them, I was honored .

So you’re reading the blog of the newest member of the Universal Life Church, Reverend Derrick. Getting ordained was quicker than signing up for Netflix. Mainly because it was free, and I didn’t need to use my credit card. In some respects, it seems silly; that I could sign up online and get ordained to marry two people who obviously love each other. But by the same token, it seems silly that the opponents of gay marriage would feel so threatened. The very thought that their CHILDREN might be EXPOSED to TWO MEN or TWO WOMEN who want to marry each other is just stupid too. Guess what? You and your children already know gay people. We’re your teachers and your neighbors, and your brothers and sisters. We sell you cars and insurance and cellphones; we’re your attorneys and mayors, and scientists and plumbers. Gay people exist, we’re not invisible, and we deserve the same rights as everyone else in this country. If you’re in California and read this blog, I encourage  you to vote NO on Prop 8.

I’ll save you some cake.

-The Reverend.