Movin' on Up

A little more protection on the GLBT front. It's still moving towards "separate but equal" but hey, it's so much better than it was! YAY!

California's high court to decide on same-sex marriage

Read the story here.

Garden State Update!

Here's a Garden State Update!

Now Jews Do Too...

Conservative Jews give the okay to same-sex unions.

And the title, it's meant to rhyme and be funny. I'm the product of a Catholic mom and a Jewish father. That means multiple types of guilt, but lots of humor.

I always think of the same-sex marriage issue as being something that should be pursued outside of religion, on the basis that religions have the right to their own interpretations of how their followers should live, and hey! there's the that whole church-n-state divide upon which our fine country was predicated.

However, as a number of branches of major religions come on board, I wonder if the way to civil protection will be via our churches and synagogues. It's hard to say, but it's interesting to think that the change may explode through the church and synagogues and mosques and temples out into society rather than the other way around, i.e. the secular government (although, really, with Bush in office, is it secular? barely) legislating or deciding through a judicial process that same-sex marriage is okay.

Not Until We All Do

Here's an article on straight folks who are refusing to get married until gay and lesbians can also do so. I'm pleased that some of the folks mentioned in this article live in my town and went to the university I attended for my doctorate (University of California, Santa Cruz). I know people may think it's a moot point, and that a few couples can't make a difference, but I truly appreciate the gesture or solidarity. As one young woman pointed out, she wouldn't eat at a lunch counter that didn't allow African Americans...

Holi-daze

Hark! Alas! The holidays are approaching, and I hope that you are all getting ready for your particular celebrations, whether you come from a tradition that enjoys a good mid-winter reprieve by setting things on fire for several days in a row and handing out chocolate money, or from one that goes all out throwing a huge party for someone's birthday (and giving EACH OTHER presents instead of him).

I celebrate Hannukamas, also known as Christmaskah, as my family of origin is a unique blend of Jewish and Catholic, with some new age and Buddhist inflection (courtesy of me). My (Jewish) aunt came up with Hannukahmas, and it stuck. When I visited her a few years ago, there were little dreidels and Hannukah gelt in the stockings, red and green candles in the menorah and red & green wrapped presents under a Hannukah bush/Christmas tree (decorated, of course, in blue and silver).

Tara grew up Mormon, so she celebrates by having lots of wives and wearing funny underwear. Just kidding! She only has one wife (to-be) and I'm sure her underwear are quite nice. And anyway, this year she's celebrating by having big holes cut in her walls, sewer lines replaced, and a stiff wind in her bedroom courtesy of the lack of fully-installed doors. Having 6 workers blasting away at her house all day gives it that festive "home for the holidays! the gang's all here!" feel.

But I digress.

I got to thinking: Maybe Hannukahmas isn't inclusive enough as it stands.

My former officemate (an African American woman) decorated our calendar with "Merry Christmahannukwanzakah" which I think will be my new holiday greeting, although it leaves out our pagan friends and their winter solstice celebrations.

Perhaps Merry Christmahannukwanzakahice would be better. That's pronounced "Christma-hannu-kwanz-a-kah'-iss" The alternative is "Christmahannukwanzasoltsikah," which I like better. That one sounds a lot like this: "Christma-hannu-kwanz-a-sol-stih'-kah." It is reminiscent of an Eastern European train stop, or something you say to your comrades while tossing back a very potent Vodka drink.

What says you?