Happy Christmas! Joy throughout the Holiday Season.

2009 has been, for us a wonderful year. We started the year as new parents to Alicia. With the help and encouragement of family and friends, we found our bearings and grew into the role of parents. Changing diapers and/or bottle-feeding while still sleeping became a practical reality in our daily life.

As the months passed, as Alicia continued to thrive and grow, we started planning for our religious wedding ceremony while waiting for the California Supreme Court to rule on Proposition 8, a ballot measure placed during the 2008 election to take away the marriage rights of same sex couples. At the end of May, however, the court released its decision: they refused to invalidate Proposition 8. They did, however, rule that the 18,000 couples that were married in 2008 continue to be valid. We are in that category as we had a civil ceremony last year on June 17th, 2008. We are disappointed at the ruling of the Supreme Court and continue to work to support the work of others to overturn Proposition 8.

In June, Amos’ entire family came from Singapore to visit and attend the wedding ceremony. While Amos’ parents visited with Alicia last year for a month, this was the first time that the rest of his family traveled from the other side of the world to meet Alicia. Naturally, our beautiful girl stole their hearts. Mickey’s families came to San Francisco to attend the ceremony too. In fact, Mickey’s niece, Meghan read a poem titled “Miracle” by poet, Bill Wright. We shared this poem 14 years ago in Bangkok when we realized that we were in love and want to spend the rest of our lives together.

The wedding ceremony was very special to both of us as well as to our families. A Wedding Banquet Celebration followed, that was fun filled, and filled with delicious food! So many people made sacrifices to join together to celebrate and to witness our nuptials from all over the world and close to home. We are so thankful and touched by the outpouring of love and support. To make it more special, Alicia reached another landmark on our wedding day – starting to walk on her own.

The ceremony and the dinner would not have been possible if not for the excellent planning of Roger. Our wedding ensemble were designed and meticulously put together by Roger’s partner Esteban. Rev Terri Echelbarger honored us by solemnizing our marriage … again (yes, this is our fourth time over the past 14 years that we’ve affirmed our commitment)
Following the wedding, we made a short trip to Yosemite before leaving for Singapore for Alicia’s first international trip. Alicia had lots of fun playing with pepper and brownie, my sisters’ dogs and visiting Amos’ friends and their kids, but Singapore was hot and humid and Alicia had a difficult time adjusting to the weather. Returning, Alicia had an even more difficult time adjusting to life without A-ma and A-kong (grandma and grandpa.)

Alicia came to us last year on Friday of Labor Day weekend, and since her birthday is only six days before Christmas, it is inevitable that her birthday will be frequently rolled into Christmas celebration. So we started what we expect to be an annual tradition of having a “Homecoming party” during Labor Day Weekend – to Celebrate Alicia (away from the usual holiday rush.)
Finally on December 2nd, we were able to make the journey to court and have the judge sign the paperwork to finalize the adoption. The adoption finalization in the judge’s chambers went by very quickly but the judge was real friendly and made the both of us feel real calm and welcome. The feeling of the finalization is similar to our feelings last year when we were finally legally married in the state of California. It just made official what we know in our heart, that Alicia is our precious little daughter and we cannot imagine our lives without her smile, her laughter and her precious hugs.

In the New Year, Congress is scheduled to consider legislation for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). As most of you know, we have been activists in this area working to pass a bill called the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) to allow an American to sponsor their same sex partner for a green card. While Amos is lucky to be able to secure a green card through his employment, many of other couples aren’t so lucky. We want to leave you with a request – we hope you will join us in making sure that when CIR is being debated next year, you will stand up and help make sure that LGBT Families are recognized as legitimate families in the legislation. Most opposite sex binational couples do not have to face the choice between love and country and same sex couples should not face that choice either. We hope that you will support this legislation. For more information, please visit Out4Immigration – http://www.out4immigration.org

As the year closes, we count our blessings and we remember and are grateful for the people in our lives that love and support us, to find stability, to live in San Francisco, to have a healthy, happy and beautiful daughter, to have a friends who circle us with love and support, and to have food on the table even as the economy tanked – we are lucky.

We hope all of you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, Happy Kwanzaa and a very good 2010.

Amos, Mickey and Alicia Lim – Christmas 2009

The journey of foster/adoption has been an eye opening process for our family and gave us a better understanding of how the budget crisis in California is destroying lives, young lives that need help. With the drastic cut in social services and early intervention for babies from age 1 – 3, we are finding that services that were supposed to be provided for kids with various stages of developmental delays have been reduced or eliminated. While Alicia qualified for services before July of this year, the drastic cuts mean that other kids who would otherwise qualify for services will no longer have access to the essential services that will affect their future developmental potential. We believe this is tragically shortsighted of the Governor and the California Legislature and hope that they will come to realize the impact on future generation growing up, and act to restore funding to support and defend the most vulnerable among us.

Alice in Wonderland - Extended Trailer

Alice in Wonderland - Extended Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

A war hero in support of Marriage Equality!

Here is a WWII Hero who spoke out in support of Marriage Equality.

Watch the video and listen to the testimony...

All I want to say is, Thank you Mr Spooner. You don't know me but in my family, you are a hero!

What President Obama Needs to Address tonight.

First off, I want to congratulate President Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I pray this exerts pressure on him demonstrate leadership on all fronts in the pursuit of peace.

As he prepares to make his big speech in front of Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner in Washington DC tonight, here are some of the things that I would like to see him speak about:

• Stand up and speak more firmly for a public option for the Health Care Reform. One of the things that is barely spoken off during all this debates is how a public option will be good for the LGBT Community and those who are HIV+. While many of them rely on their private health insurance to pay for their medications and doctor's visit, a great many HIV+ patients depend on government assistance programs to provide health care. If we have a public option, we would not have to rely on the fickle funding formulas of the Ryan White Act or AIDS Drugs Assistance Program to pay for the medication.
  
  
• Speak strongly and follow up with action to push congress to pass the following gay rights bills.
  
  
  • - Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - Now, more than ever, he needs to fulfill his campaign promise to Repeal DOMA. With 5 states enjoying marriage equality and a few other states providing recognition of LGBT relationships, the time has come for the federal government to fully recognize these relationship and provide FULL FAITH AND CREDIT on a federal level so that the committed couples can enjoy the 1,138 federal rights and responsibilities that comes with marriage.
    
    
  • - Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) - I will never understand why anybody would want to join the military… that said, people do and I respect their service. DADT is a bad policy and should be abolished - short and simple. All the rhetoric about unit cohesion if we allow gays in the army is just that: (empty) rhetoric… Gay men and women are already serving in the armed forces and rather than protect them, the policy forces honorable men and women to lie in order to serve. Lying is contrary to every code of honor. DADT is wrong and needs to be addressed now.
    
    
  • - Passage of Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) - President Obama responded to a HRC questionnaire last year during the primary indicating that he supported this bill. He however did not sponsor the bill when he was in the senate. The bill has an excellent chance of passing this time around either as a stand alone bill or through a Inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform. What the bill does is add 3 simple words "or permanent partners" after spouse in immigration law. Those 3 simple words will, allow an American who is LGBT to sponsor his/her partner, who is a foreigner, for a green card. Under this gratuitously discriminatory Immigration law, there are more than 40,000 couples struggling to continue stay in US, while tens of thousands more couples have either left the country to live in exile or try to maintain a long distance relationships. The time has come for President Obama to take a stand and tell congress that this is unacceptable and MUST change! Couples should not be made to choose between Love OR Country - this is wrong and needs to be addressed now.
    
    
  • - Inclusive Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) - unless you have been through the immigration process or know of someone who is going through it, you would have no idea why there are so many undocumented immigrants living here or that it is so difficult to navigate the system. In short, you will have no idea that our immigration system is broken beyond repair. The philosophy behind Immigration in the US is family reunification - however, LGBT families are not recognized as families by the federal government and therefore unable to take advantage of this principle to sponsor our partners for a green card. It is important that the CIR introduced in January 2010 be an inclusive one - meaning it is one that recognizes LGBT families as a family unit. Rep Mike Honda has already introduced Reuniting Families Act (RFA) which includes the language of UAFA in his bill and we are told that Rep Gutierrez will be introducing an immigration bill in the coming weeks. President Obama needs to demonstrate leadership and speak out for an inclusive immigration reform bill that includes LGBT Families.
    
    
  • - Speak out AGAINST Amendment 1 in Maine and FOR Referendum 71 in Washington - last year, the Yes on Prop 8 put out a brochure targeting certain communities stating that President Obama is against Gay Marriage and implied he is supporting Proposition 8. How much impact did that mailer have on the targeted community, we will never know… but we did loose to Prop 8 and with it the right to get married. It is, therefore, important for him to speak on the stage tomorrow AGAINST Amendment 1 and FOR Referendum 71 - Since our foe's are already recycling the materials from their Prop 8 campaign, I am sure that the mailers with President Obama's face and his quote that he does not believe in gay marriage will be sent to these two states and WILL affect the election in those two states… so he need to step up right now and speak out! Bigotry and hatred are wrong and needs to be addressed now.

Alicia playing in the backyard with her slides

grandma and granpa

Alicia's learning how to pronouce "ah gong" and "ah ma", grandma and grandpa in hokkien - at least for now she remembers what they look like, by pointing at the picture of my mom and dad on the wall.... my baby is growing up. Her hair is also growing long... :)

Mickey and I cannot believe that she is now 16 months old and have been with us for 9 months already! She is our love and joy and we really cannot remember our lives without her - while our lives have turned upside down, she has filled our days with laughter and joy and she continues to amaze us everyday with new stuff...

ah gong and ah ma will be reunited with alicia soon... in a couple of weeks.

IOWA

Washington Post Supports the Uniting American Families Act!

Washington Post today wrote an editorial in support of the passage of Uniting American Families Act. I have copied a few paragraphs here but feel free to click on the link to be directed to their website to read the entire article and make a comment.

Separation Anxiety

Gay couples should be allowed to stay together in the United States
Monday, March 16, 2009; Page A16

THE UNITING American Families Act would allow gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency in the United States. The bill, introduced last month in the Senate by Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and in the House by Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), would add "permanent partner" and "permanent partnership" after the words "spouse" and "marriage" in relevant sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If passed, it would right a gross unfairness.

Under the proposal, a "permanent partnership" is defined as a "committed, intimate relationship" with another adult "in which both parties intend a lifelong commitment." The couple must be financially interdependent and not married to or in a permanent partnership with anyone else. And the partners can't be related. The benefit comes with the same immigration restrictions and enforcement standards that apply to heterosexual couples. Fraudulent permanent partnerships face the same penalties as fake marriages: up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

"Under current law, committed same-sex foreign partners of American citizens are unable to use the family immigration system, which accounts for a majority of the green cards and immigrant visas granted annually by the United States," Mr. Leahy said upon introducing the bill. "The promotion of family unity has long been part of federal immigration policy, and we should honor that principle by providing all Americans the opportunity to be with their loved ones." According to the most recent census, he added, about 35,000 binational, same-sex couples are living in the United States. The new legislation would ensure that the family connections valued under immigration law are extended to gays and lesbians.

(read more)

Alicia's learning to be silly.... :)

Our little girl has been verbalizing for some time but have also recently started speaking a few words... first word she learnt was "hot" and we think she thinks that Hot = Kitchen. Since that is the word we always say when she crawls into the kitchen.... HOT!!!

Then came "Oh Boy" - well she cannot say boy yet, but she goes "oooooooooooooh bbbbbb"

She just started using the word "Up" last week and this weekend, she started "OUCH!"... we thinks she is progressing really well and it is real amazing to see her pick up words (she also says nana for banana and understand "biscuit" or "饼干" which is biscuit in chinese...

Here's her learning how to make sounds (like raspberry sounds) with her lips and fingers.

Isn't she cute?

2 more cosponsors for UAFA in the House!

Just found out that 2 more cosponsors signed on to the Uniting American Families Act in the house, making it a total of 88 cosponsors!

The 2 congressperson that signed on are:
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 3/3/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 3/3/2009

If you live in any of the districts whose reps have sponsored the bill, please be sure to thank them!

Rep Clarke's contact information can be found here.
Rep Cummings' contact information can be found here.

Click on the link below to find out who has signed on to sponsor the bill (and please contact those who have not signed on to urge them to support the bill)

UAFA in the senate.
UAFA in the house.

For more information about the Uniting American Families Act, click here.

More Co-sponsors for Uniting American Families Act!

We have secured 1 more cosponsors in the senate and 7 more in the house since its introduction on Feb 12th, 2009.

Senator Bernie Sanders from VT signed on. I think my husband, Mickey, speaking to him at an event in San Francisco organized by the Progressive Campaign worked. He was the last person to ask a question and his question was simple. "Will you sign on to the Uniting American Families Act? You have in the past but so far since you have been in the senate, you have not sign on yet." Sen Sander's answer "YES".

One and a half week later - he did. Maybe a lot of you have been calling him... but selfishly, I think my husband made the difference. :)

And I want to urge all of you to please call... yes, you do make a difference whether a representative or senator will sign on to the bill.

Who knows? Your call to the representative might have contributed to the 7 more house representative to sign on to the bill.

Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 2/13/2009
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 2/23/2009
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 2/23/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 2/23/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 2/23/2009
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 2/26/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 2/26/2009

So, please call your representative and continue to urge them to sign on and sponsor the Uniting American Families Act.

Find out who your representative is at http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm, then call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your U.S. Representative.

Tell your representative's staff:

I am calling to ask Representative ______________ to be a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act of 2009.

The U.S. government discriminates against gay and lesbian binational couples by not allowing them to sponsor their foreign-born life partners for immigration. Because of this, they face the terrible choice of separating from the person they love or leaving the country. As Americans, they should not have to choose between family and country. Please ask Rep. _______________ to cosponsor the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 by reaching out to Rep. Nadler/Senator Leahy right away.

Thank you!
Amos

BAR - Immigration bill re-introduced in Congress

Mickey and Out4Immigration was quoted in an article by the Bay Area Reporter today.

You can read the full article here. I am just excerpting a few paragraph which included the quote from Out4Immigration and Mickey.

Immigration bill re-introduced in Congress

by Lisa Keen

Representative Jerrold Nadler re-introduced UAFA last week.

Saying that now there's a president in the White House who is not a "guaranteed veto" for the legislation, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) last week re-introduced a bill seeking to enable gay Americans to sponsor their foreign same-sex partners for legal residency in the United States.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) re-introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

Speaking to reporters on a telephone conference call Thursday, February 12, Nadler said it would be hard to say what the "odds" are for the bill – the Uniting American Families Act – to pass.

[read more...]

Out4Immigration, another LGBT advocacy group, expressed its hope that the bill will get a hearing. It noted this was the sixth time the legislation has been introduced.

"Today marks a fresh beginning for change toward the discrimination faced by same-sex binational couples," said Mickey Lim, vice president of the organization.

[read more...]

TV coverage on Uniting American Families Act

Thanks goes to Paul and Dan for sharing their story with the filippino television station. Why would the government not allow 2 person in love to stay together? Why would the government intentionally break up couples just because they are gay lesbian bisexual or transgender and one of them just happened to be a foreigner? This is just blatant discrimination that a heterosexual american can sponsor his/her foreign born partner for a green card but a gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender american cannot sponsor his/her foreign born partner for a green card.

We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act to address this inequality! The bill has just been introduced in the house (HR1024) with 80 cosponsor and in the senate (S424) with 14 cosponsor. Please call your senators and representative and urge them to sponsor this bill!!

Alicia @ Marriage Equality Rally in Sacramento

Here's Alicia attending her 4th rally in support of Marriage Equality. Thanks to fritz (at pamshouseblend.com) for taking the pictures.

We all had a very good time while we were there. We think that she likes being in a crowd and hearing the roar from the crowd (clapping, screamming etc) because that is a sign and an encouragement for her to scream at the top of her lungs too.... She also have lots of facial expression (as you can see from the pictures).

Now we just need to find out from Aunty Rona what we need to do to get her used to road trip (or start enjoying road trips).

Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)

I just want to update all of you about the re-introduction of the Uniting American Families Act yesterday by Rep Jerrold Nadler (HR1024) and Senator Patrick Leahy (S 424).

The house bill has managed to secure 79 cosponsors and the senate bill has secured 14 cosponsors.

This is hugely significant as during the past few sessions when the bill was introduced, we have never secured so many cosponsors signing on from the start.

I want to urge all of you to call you representative to (1) urge them to sponsor this important bill or (2) thank them for signing on to the bill.

This bill is important because currently LGBT binational couple where one partner is an American does not have any rights to sponsor their foreign born partner for a green card. A lot of them are being forced to leave the country to live in exile just so that they can stay together with their loved ones. This is blatantly unfair to force an American to choose between love or country.

We have a real chance of getting this bill heard and passed and we need all you help.

Please spread the word and call your representatives and senators to support this bill.

Thank you!

For more information:

Out4Immigration: http://www.out4immigration.org

Marriage Equality: http://www.marriageequality.or...

Love Exiles: http://www.loveexiles.org

Out4Immigration Hopeful Re-Introduction of Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) Will Get a Hearing, a Vote and a Signature by President Obama

Bills in House and Senate Call for End to Immigration Discrimination against Same-Sex Binational Couples in United States

WASHINGTON, DC, February 12, 2009 – Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) re-introduced The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) in the House and Senate today. The legislation calls for an end to the immigration discrimination gay and lesbian Americans face when they seek to sponsor a foreign partner to live with them in the United States.

“One of the fundamental principles of American immigration law and policy is the notion of family unification…. Unfortunately, same-sex couples committed to spending their lives together are not recognized as "families" under current federal law, including US immigration law,” said Nadler.

“The idea that immigration benefits should be extended to same-sex couples is not a novel one. Many nations have come to recognize that their respective immigration laws should respect family unity, regardless of a person’s sexual orientation. Indeed, 16 of our closest allies – Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom – recognize same-sex couples for immigration purposes,” said Leahy.

This is the sixth time this legislation, formerly known as the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, has been introduced in Congress. The bills call for simply amending existing US immigration law by adding three words – “or permanent partner” – wherever the word spouse appears. It is estimated some 36,000 gay and lesbian American citizens are in same-sex binational relationships and are affected by lack of rights and protections of their relationships at the federal level.

“Today marks a fresh beginning for change toward the discrimination faced by same sex- binational couples,” said Mickey Lim, Vice President of the grassroots organization Out4Immigration, which works to raise awareness about this issue. “We recognize the significance of the reintroduction of the UAFA during Freedom to Marry Week because immigration rights are one of the 1,138 rights same-sex couples are denied at the federal level because our relationships are not recognized by our government.”

The UAFA already has 50+ co-sponsors in the House and 12 in the Senate. Rep. Nadler is hopeful that the bill will finally get a hearing at the Committee level this time around. With a new administration in place, a bill of this caliber – which addresses both LGBT issues and immigration issues – has a good chance of receiving more support than in the past.

“President Obama indicated he supports this legislation during his campaign,” said Lim. “Therefore, we hope the UAFA will finally get a hearing at the Committee level. This will help more people understand the impact that this discrimination has had on hundreds and thousands of same-sex binational couples.”

Once the UAFA gets out of committee, it can go for a floor vote. The significance of having many co-sponsors on board early on indicates the bill has a good chance of passing in Congress. Once that happens it goes to the President’s desk. President Obama is on record saying he wants to “afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.”

For more information:

Rep. Nadler Continues Fight for LGBT Immigrant Rights: Uniting American Families Act Would Allow Americans to Sponsor Permanent Partners: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny08_nadler/UAFA_021209.html

Leahy Introduces Bill To Provide Equality Under Immigration Law: http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200902/021209b.html

The White House: President Barack Obama: Civil Rights: Support for the LGBT Community: Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Senator Obama’s Open Letter to LGBT Community Echoes Out4Immigration’s Call: http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/content_detail.asp?=&id=1231&ctid=148

The Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 2221): http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02221:

The Uniting American Families Act (S.1328): http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01328:

Human Rights Watch Report: Family Unvalued: Discrimination, Denial, and the Fate of Binational Same-Sex Couples under US Law: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/us0506/

About Out4Immigration:

Out4Immigration is a grassroots organization based in San Francisco that addresses the widespread discriminatory impact of US immigration laws on the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV+ people and their families through education, outreach, advocacy and the maintenance of a resource and support network. For more information, visit www.out4immigration.org. To schedule interviews with same-sex binational couples who are available to speak with the media on this issue, including Spanish-speaking couples, please contact Amos Lim, amos at out4immigration.org, 415-375-3765 or Kathy Drasky at kathy at out4immigration.org, 415-606-2085.

A New Era II

I am sitting here at work watching the telecast of the inauguration of President Obama and just tearing up. I am a Singaporean living in the United States for the past 9 years now and I really do not remember watching the auguration(s) of bush. I think I was at Civic Center with throngs of people protesting the inauguration.

Mickey still always reminded me that even though he felt sick to his stomach after election nights 8 years ago (and was even more sick 4 years later), I kept asking… well… okay… maybe Bush won… but how bad can he be? He said I was naïve…. But as a new transplant, who just moved his entire life to come to the United States in order to be with the person that he fell in love with and still trying to understand politics here…. Really, how bad can it be?

Well… eight years have taught me a lot and the truth is that we have been through a lot. We are now at war with 2 countries, we have killed thousands of innocent people in Iraq, we have ignored the rule of law, we have ignored Geneva conventions and start torturing people, we have split the country rather than unite the country, we encouraged people to go shopping rather than sacrifice or take care of one another after 9/11, we have used LGBT people disparagingly as a wedge issue to win elections…. The list goes on.

Look, I am not totally all crazy over Barack Obama, however, over the past months, over the past few days, I have been overwhelmed by the change in attitude…. I feel that people are chirpier, more optimistic about the future…. I feel that people are aware of the difficulties that we are going to be facing… but at the same time, I feel people feeling resolved that they are ready to roll up their sleeves and work and sacrifice and take care of each other.

I am still disappointed that our president who comes from an inter-racial marriage and whose family is a rainbow portrait of multi-ethnicity would say that he does not support gay marriage but supports civil unions. It is a wonder for me that while he is a product of “separate but equal is not equal”, he would not support gay marriage but thinks civil unions is sufficient. That said, this is the first time, in my memory at least, that our President’s agenda as printed on whitehouse.gov includes LGBT issues as a civil rights issues.

To me – that is a start. To quote Bruce Vilanch “Kids, the only solution for us is to reluctantly, but firmly, vow to be the unpopular people who force our new leader's feet to the fire on a regular basis” http://wockner.blogspot.com/2009/01/gay-vips-on-obama-25.html

I hope and wish that this president fulfills his promise to all of us. The United States of America right now is in a BIG mess… the financial world is collapsing, people are losing their house to foreclosures, unemployment is very high, we are in a HUGE deficit and would be for a long time, people are losing health insurance …. Tough times…. But no matter what, as President Obama calls us to work together and to sacrifice, we also need to continue a watchful eye to ensure that he guarantees basic civil rights for all of us, for all LGBT people.

At the end of the day though, I think Scott Long, Director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Division says it best…. “Before we're LGBT people, or Americans, we're human beings. We deserve a government that respects human rights, and whether it tramples on them in Fallujah or New Orleans, we all suffer. Of course, there's more on the agenda. I'm all for the big tent (or is it wide stance?) that Obama seems to be attempting. The quarter of Americans who believe that homosexuals are bound straight for hell are not going away; the sensible thing is to look for some minimal measure of common ground, so that the diatribes can give way to dialogue at least around the edges. But he still needs to stand up for basic civil rights: pass ENDA (trans-inclusive), endorse the Uniting American Families Act, disavow DOMA, let soldiers ask and tell. He needs to be reminded every day that human rights are indivisible. After eight years of duplicity and division, even the most idealistic leaders may succumb to the habitual lapses of a corrupted government, and forget their way." http://wockner.blogspot.com/2009/01/gay-vips-on-obama-13.html

A New Era

I saw the opening ceremony on HBO - but they cut out Rev Gene Robinson's prayer. Here it is in its entirety. WoW!

I am hopeful that a new era is happening. However, I am still going to be watchful to make sure that President Obama will stick to his promise and his agenda as updated on the new Whitehouse.gov website. Full Equality & Federal Benefits for all LGBT couples!



Lincoln Memorial, Washington , DC
January 18, 2009
Delivered by the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson:

"Welcome to Washington ! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God's blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic "answers" we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be "fixed" anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States .

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln 's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States .

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN."