National Equality March on Washington, October 11 October 13, 2009
Posted by onemonkeyshow in My opinion - and my opinion counts, The Husbands, do some good, just the facts, traveltraveltravel.add a comment
We got up early on Sunday and made our way to the area where the march was starting. We stood around for 2 hours before it began and watched the streets fill up with people. It was so important to us to be there for this, despite the opposition to and the criticism of the march. The point was to bring us together, create a unified voice that could loudly proclaim we aren’t content – we won’t just roll over – we want to be equal citizens. It was such a structured “march” that I found myself longing for more anger. I get pissed off thinking about it – I pay the SAME FUCKING TAXES that everyone else does, and yet I cannot legally have the same relationship. That’s why I marched.
Most amazing of all was the turnout of young people – the Queer Youth. More power to them. I was so glad they were there. Had I been able to do at 15 what they are doing now, who knows where I’d be. It was inspiring to see. And it was awesome to see some of the older generations who were passing the mantle, so to speak, to those of us there on Sunday.
The march ended on the lawn of the Capital. We hurtled the stone wall, and found a spot under a tree to watch the rally. The Washington DC Gay Men’s Chorus started out the rally, and then a multitude of speakers took the stand. And this is where things went wrong, in my opinion. This was such an amazing opportunity for the LGBTQ community – so many of us there, in one spot, for similar reasons – the speakers should have driven us crazy with ferver. We should have been chanting, yelling, singing. Instead, we listed to one politically-driven speech after another. Every speaker had their own agenda to push. Keith and I were there for our right to have a Civil Marriage. Yet here we were listening to essays on Immigration, Labor Laws, and many other issues that were muddling the focus that we desperately needed. I felt lost, and I felt like each and every speech became less and less about the issues that are important RIGHT NOW. Sadly, the crowd completely dispersed after an hour. Such a wasted opportunity.
However there were two people that managed to inspire. Cynthia Nixon took the stage (VERY briefly) and reminded us that this is an issue that is personal to all of us. Love is love. Give me the same rights as my neighbor. And shortly after Cynthia Nixon, Lady Gaga took the stage. She spoke from the heart – about her friends, her family. She screamed “ARE YOU LISTENING?” to Obama. That’s what I wanted!! We didn’t come here to be quiet – we didn’t come here to ask, we came here to fucking DEMAND!!!!!
So while I was outstandingly proud of us for attending, I can only hope that a good message was delivered. But this was a start, and it needs to continue. Bring the fight back to your home towns, bring the fight to your neighborhoods and cities. We cannot back down. We cannot relax. I want to marry my husband – I will not be content with a CIVIL UNION any longer.
Okay, stepping down off my soap box now. Time to share the photos from the march – and take note of the fantastic signs that people were carrying!!
saturday night in DC October 13, 2009
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We had a nice dinner at Matchbox on Saturday night, and then went out for a few drinks. After all of that, however, we decided to grab the camera and hit the monuments again for an evening stroll. It was a beautiful night out, and the Mall wasn’t crowded at all. Although I had a bit of a snag when I couldn’t remember how to adjust the shutter speed on my camera for low-light (I didn’t have a tripod with me) – Keith whipped out his trusty iPhone, found the manual online, and figured it out. Thankfully. I was ready to throw the whole damn thing against a wall. Still, it all worked out in the end.
While I was working out the camera shutter speed, I did manage to get a few interesting shots:
Once all was set with the camera, I felt much better. And Keith was proud of himself for figuring it out. 
So we walked by the Washington Monument, and I snapped this while behind a tree.
Here’s a cool shot – that’s Keith standing in front of the Washington Monument taking a photo with his iPhone.
And here’s Keith again up against the Washington Monument. Ever notice how the guy with the camera is in the fewest number of photos?
We walked through the relatively new WWII Memorial. The fountains were certainly pretty at night. But I kept wondering – why do so many monuments and memorials involve water? Anyone know the answer to that?
And here’s Keith outside of the WWII Memorial.
Walking up to the Lincoln Memorial – striking the way the statue seems to glow.
And then I finally found a good spot to put my camera down and increase the shutter speed. I’m so glad I did because I think these two photos really are beautiful:
saturday in DC October 13, 2009
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We set off for DC early Saturday morning (after securing and feeling GREAT about our new dog-walker, Gillian!). We had the day to ourselves before the march on Sunday, so we set off for a bit of exploring. As we headed up to the Mall, we saw this van. Thank God we now know when Judgment Day is. Seriously, if we know the date, why aren’t more people talking about it????
Here’s Keith posing in front of a big phallic structure…oh wait, that’s the Washington Monument.
As we were walking towards the reflecting pool, a guy in a red dress ran by. And then many, many guys in red dresses ran by. Not quite sure why, but it was fun to watch.
We got to the reflecting pool, and I snapped this photo of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a bit dreary of a day, so I’m glad it turned out as well as it did.
Man, look at my hair!!
It was pretty amazing to stand in this spot, where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, considering we were here to march for our civil rights as well.
I’ve always been fascinated by this monument. I think it’s a pretty awe-inspiring depiction of the man we have all come to herald as one of the best Presidents this country has ever seen.
Gotta love the timer on my camera. It’s responsible for so many photos of us together.
After the Lincoln Memorial we walked through the Korean War Memorial and then the Vietnam War Memorial. I was moved by a group of kids that was walking through. They were reading everything, getting very involved, asking questions – it was very touching.
And then on the OTHER side of “touching” – we happened by the Boy Scouts Memorial. I’m sorry, but what do these naked adults have to do with the Boy Scouts? And what the hell is up with that man? That shroud he is carrying just happens to cover up his junk, and the look on his face is like “what? so I like being naked around boys – you have a problem with that?” Creepy!!
Um…I don’t think I’ll caption this one. Although I did send it to Lana.
some photos from DC September 11, 2009
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We had a great weekend in DC. We will be heading back in October for the Marriage Equality March on Washington (October 11). Of course no trip to DC would be complete without a photo like this:
Or how about this:
I had never been to the Smithsonian Museum of American History (I’d been to the Air & Space, and others…) so we made a point to head there this time. I love this artistic representation of the American flag blowing in the wind:
And the shadow it leaves on the wall:
And as we were waiting for our train to head back to the city, we had dinner in the middle of Union Station:
beaver warning & bridal veils September 11, 2009
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Dunno…randomness from our trip to Oregon. The first Keith insisted I take a photo of. He thought this hand-made sign at Multnomah Falls was just hilarious.
And second, this was a shot I took when we got to Bridal Veils, where Laura & Bill were married. The sun was just beginning to set…
the one and only keith September 9, 2009
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…leaving the hotel in Hood River, Oregon
the world is a stage
gettin’ out of gotham for the weekend September 3, 2009
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Tomorrow we’re hopping on a train and heading to DC for the long Labor Day weekend. I like traveling by train, but I’ve never really done it in the states. Should be a nice trip there and back on Monday. So since I know you’re all going to miss me I’ve arranged some eye candy for each day I’m gone. Enjoy!
the husbands at the nude beach August 27, 2009
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I just got this photo from Keith…us hanging out naked at the beach:
another trip to the nude beach August 27, 2009
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Yesterday was the perfect day – warm, sunny, nice breeze. Couldn’t resist taking the ferry to Sandy Hook beach in New Jersey (Gunnison Beach), stripping down naked and romping in the waves. Keith obliged me by getting ready early so we could leave 15 minutes earlier than last time. It made all the difference in the world. The ferry ride, as usual, was beautiful. Here we are during the trip – check out my long hair flapping in the wind:
A parting shot of Manhattan:
The day was awesome, and the water was perfectly cool. There were still a few large waves – remnants of Bill I guess. We smothered ourselves in sunblock, and stayed under the umbrella when not in the water. Had a nice picnic lunch, and watched the sites (very nice view yesterday…haha). After a full day of sun and surf, we headed back to catch the bus to the ferry. Can you tell I was a little tired?
And standing along the walkway to the pier, waiting for the ferry, I snapped this photo of the grass blowing in the wind.
A perfect day on the beach. Probably the last of the season – the ferry stops running after Labor Day, and the weather is supposed to be cool for the next 10 days or so. Glad we got in one more visit!
couple more from oregon August 27, 2009
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Just a couple more photos that were hiding in my iPhone from our trip to Oregon. There’s a pic of my crawfish etouffee that I got at Jake’s Crawfish restaurant in Portland on our first night. A pic of our propped up feet on our balcony in Hood River. And one of my oyster shot at Montage restaurant in Portland (we had to go for their mac’n'cheese!):
