Yeah, Mark, dude - I don't want to speak for Geoff, but I think he and I are on the same page here - if you feel personally offended at the commerciailization of marriage - power to you.  I feel the same way about holidays, myself.  But I don't think Geoff or I are trying to offend you - nothing we're saying should be taken as personally offensive.  I mean, I think it's a little offensive to realize everything runs around money - maybe vulgar is a better term, but still...

Dude - no hard feelings.

So... I just got home from DC Pride weekend festivities.  Whew!  I'm sweaty and sunburned (and more than a little drunk as I type this -- hooray for the beer tent!). 

When I was approached by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) people, I asked, "Who's your candidate now?  Is it Obama yet?  Didn't some college intern announce your support for him last week -- you know, the day before Hillary dropped out?" 

There was a booth not far from them that encouraged us to still support Hillary -- don't let her campaign die!  The primary isn't over yet!  They were not pleased by me.  I approached THAT booth and said, "What has Hillary done for us?  She doesn't even feel 'comfortable' around gays (her words, not mine)"  They tried to bring up "don't ask/don't tell" and DOMA and I laughed out loud -- then moved on.  I didn't get a sticker.  Bummer!

I tell you, I don't know what to think.  Even in my short 44 years on this planet, we've come a long way, baby.   I know we've got a long road ahead of us, but to look up and see the Capitol building in the background as we walked shirtless through the streets... well, I felt okay.  How far have we come since Stonewall? 

It takes time.  And we've had THOUSANDS of years of opression and bigotry to deal with.  It'll happen -- eventually.

I'm just tired of being angry.

Time for a shower.  Thank you, guys, for your continued support and encouragement. 

Tom - have you heard the song "My Mother Had a Brother" by George Michael?  It's got the same theme as what you're saying. 

The song is incredibly moving and powerful - it usually gets a tear out of me when I listen to it.

This is encouraging:

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/historians-see-little -chance-for-mccain/20080615124509990001?icid=100214839x12041 72149x1200167371