2004-02-09 - 1:33 a.m.

Addendum: Congrats to Presidents Clinton and Gorbachev for their Grammy!

The downstairs neighbors are slamming doors and stomping about. I have no idea why. Not that I am trying to sleep, oh no. I'm waiting for Art Bell to interview Ed Danes. I know that doesn't mean anything to you.

The roommate and I had a little conversation about the issue of marriage. Obviously, the two opposed camps are advocating for marriage for all persons in a diad or marriage only for a hetrosexual diad. Dave feels that there could be a compromise between the two camps, like a civil union. Of course, there are two points regarding this that need to be considered, the first being the that the SJC ruled that this compromise ain't gonna fly and that only marriage, called marriage, will fit the Commonwealth's Constitution.

The other, probably more critical, issue is that marriage (as opposed to Civil Unions) have a long standing status of being recognized in other states by the Equal Rights and Protect clause in the Federal Consitution. That's why it is critical that the changes in domestic partnership laws in our Commonwealth be defined as marriage for homosexual diads.

I don't think that clicked with Dave. He supports a Civil Union over marriage. We think with talk of a Amendment to redefine marriage, it could be possible to promote a Civil Unions clause, but I don't think he understands how important it is that gay marriage be called marriage.

It is critical that all of your write your elected officals to let them know your thoughts on this subject. Focus on your reps in the State House, but also CC your Federal delegation as well as your local leaders. It is probably a good idea to FAX your Federal delegation rather than mail them, given the recent posion scare in DC, but to all parties you should snail mail or FAX them. Email is too easy to be deleted and over looked.

Folks living outside of the Commonwealth (HI, Gary & Mel!), you ain't off the hook. Write your ppl too.

Let's see if we can't get everyone in our little diaryland community to write to our reps.

-Jesse