Tomorrow

In less than 24 hours, the polls will be open for mid term elections.  In less than 24 hours, you could be asked to write discrimination into your state constitution.  In less than 24 hours, history can be made.

In the last 5 years, 20 states have asked voters to approve a state constitutional amendment not onl;y defining marriage as between one man and one woman, but also squelching the possibility of civil unions or domestic partnerships. 

Tomorrow 8 more states will ask voters to do the same.  This measure will deny thousands of loving couples their pensions, hospital visitation rights, property rights and other important privledges that married couples take for granted.

Vote NO on November 7th if you live in WI, VA, CO,AZ,SD, TN, ID, or SC.  Let your voice for NO be heard!  Vote NO and NOTHING WILL CHANGE.  No gay marriage, no government intervention, no invasion of privacy.  Did you know that each of these 8 states ALREADY has a law on the books banning gay marriage?  Don't let discrimination find its place in your constitution.

New Jersey...Is Visiblity really progress?

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled last week that the Legislature must afford same-sex couples equal rights of marriage, but stopped short of calling it such.

In a hateful world such as ours, it is easy to get caught up in news like this and declare it good.  But is visibiliy, in any form, progress?  Shouldn't gay people be afforded the same rights as heterosexuals WITHOUT it being big enough to make the front page nationwide?  FURTHERMORE...If homosexuals are now, oh so generously, given EQUALITY, then why musn't we lable these rights equal?  WHY must they have exactly the same benefits of marriage but under a different title?

People, this is not progress.  This isn't even news-worthy. 

FIND OUT NOW how to make true progress.  How to make history.  How to help.

http://www.hrc.org/nov2006/

Brad Pitt

When I was in 6th grade, I made a promise to myself, and to society.  When I was a junior in high school, I renewed that promise to my best friend Sam.

Now, I stand before once again proclaiming my commitment to the LGBT Community: As a straight Ally in the fight for EQUALITY, I promise not to get married until marriage equaility extends into each of the 50 states, not just Massachusettes.

Last week, Brad Pitt made headlines saying that same thing!  And you know what?  I am not mad about it.  I am happy!  Happy that people are taking a stand against discrimination.  Happy that he is using his voiceto speak for people like me.  People who don't matter to the media!

I, Emma Toth, will not get married until gay couples can do the same!

the ultimate happiness

Today, I opened the box for the first time in a very long time.

I gave Sam the box 2 months before he died.  He was moving away to college.  I was a year younger and I had to stay behind.  So I bought him the photo box and put my picture on it.  I told him that whenever something happened at college that I should know abbout, he should take 30 seconds to write it down and put it in the box.  And then, the next time we were on the phone, he would go thru the box and read me the notes.  It was our way of making sure we never missed even the smallest moment.

And we didn't.

Now, the box sits on my desk.  I replaced the picture of myself with a picture of Sam, and I have put some of my own things on the box.  When I open it, I can still smell the scent of his dorm room. 

The box represents our secrets and dream together.  It hold precious moments and valuable memories.  This box is just about all I have left of Sam, other than some sweatshirts and photos.  And I would give away all those sweatshirts and the content of the box for just one more day with Sam.

I wanted to use the box as inspiration for a post today.  But when I look at it, all my factually based arguments in support of Same-Sex Marriage and unwaivering evidence that the Ban is bad news just go out the window. 

Because, when I look at that box I can't help but think about how short life is.  And then I wonder...Why would anyone dedicate a part of their life to denying the ultimate happiness of marriage to another human being?  Life is so short, and in the end...does it really matter who you marry?  Doesn't that indescribable human connection called "love" trump everything else? 

PLEDGE to vote NO on the ban!

The single most important thing you can do for LGBT equality is to talk to people: family, co-workers, friends, grocery store clerks, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, old high school buddies, any- and everyone. A survey by HRC tells us that less than 50% of us have talked with our own family members and asked for their support for our equality. The time to have that talk and ask for that support is right now.

On November 7th, equality will be tested.  Don't let them take away our freedom, our civil liberties.  Don't let them make us second class citizens!  We will win this because of people like you:  People who know that the ban is extreme and far-reaching.

Donate your time, your money, your voice...and most importantly-YOUR VOTE! Vote NO on the Amendment: November 7th, 2006. 

• Pledge in Wisconsin
• Pledge in Virginia
• Fight for your Rights in Colorado
• Pledge in Arizona
• Vote NO in South Dakota
• Help OUT in Tennessee
• Speak OUT in Idaho
• Act Now in South Carolina

100 Promises

Pledge right here too!  Leave a comment saying that you are a voter in one of the above 8 states and that you will Vote NO on November 7th.   Tell your friends to come here and promise to secure equality also!

If you are not of voting age, tell me that you will talk to your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers -anyone that CAN vote- and let them know why YOU wish you could vote NO on November 7th.

I will count the pledges.  LET'S band together and strive for 100! That's a HUNDRED voices for NO.  I will vote No on the Amendment!

Thanks for your help

*EDIT* 8-13-06 @4pm CST

Wow!  Im a quarter of the way to my goal.  Love and peace to all the pledgers!  And love and peace even to those who refuse to pledge.