AARP PRiSM Network Online
 
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Date Created:
May 23, 2008
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AARP PRiSM Network Online

This community group focuses on issues of interest to AARP members, volunteers and staff who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or an ally (LGBTA). It is a place to share ideas, resources, successes, and concerns about aging, caregiving, retirement...as an LGBTA person, and as part of the AARP community.

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Trip to Tucson,Arizona
By: Tristan3022 on February 8, 2010 | Posts: 1 | Latest Post By: seniortimes on February 8, 2010
Parents of LGBT
By: Cadee78 on February 2, 2010 | Posts: 3 | Latest Post By: ankeh on February 3, 2010
a bit of activism for a gay caregiver of his partner of 30 years
By: jane on January 29, 2010 | Posts: 2 | Latest Post By: Reed13 on February 3, 2010
Invitation: Open House and Reception @ The DC Center (for those of you in and around Washington DC)
By: jane on January 29, 2010 | Posts: 0
Prop 8, PFLAG, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Observances
By: Reed13 on January 12, 2010 | Posts: 6 | Latest Post By: Reed13 on January 26, 2010
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Robert and Richard July 4th, 2007
 
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our table at the Capital Pride Festival
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AARP in DC Captital Pride Parade 2009
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PFLAG Holiday Cards

Noting an article here about the Washington, DC council having passed a marriage equality ordinance, I noticed the fine print:  the action must be ratified by Congress.

I commented as follows:

It WOULD be nice if Congress doesn't meddle.  As they're currently tied up with health care, perhaps the Republican attempts to stall everything will result in them shooting themselves in the foot (metaphoricallly); i.e., the law will pass into being for lack of their opposition.

I'm participating in the national PFLAG campaign to send holiday cards to President Obama.

I've created a card that has me, my later "Registered Domestic Partner" Robert, my mother, my late step-dad Bill, and the amazing Cindy-Lou Kitty, who passed away early this year at the age of 21. 

I point out that it would have been nice to have been able to refer to Robert as "my husband," instead of the separate-and-not-equal "partner."  And it would also have been nice to have enjoyed the more than 1,100 rights granted by a marriage certificate.

As it was, we had to register in order to maintain me on Robert's Disney health insurance:  we had to provide proof that we were REALLY a couple.  And, at that time, we paid $70.00 to register with the City of Long Beach (three dollars MORE than the then cost of $67.00 for a marriage license in L.A. County), and got the official rights to visit each other in a hospital or in a jail -- and that was ALL it graanted.  Nonetheless, the proof was acceptable to Disney.

And let's not talk about the cost of executing wills, powers of attorney, and living wills with each other as executors and/or beneficiaries.

This second-class status and continued economic oppresion amaze me.

Maybe we could join the rest of the world, where the sky did not fall when same-sex couples were allowed to marry. 

And they married in droves.

 

Jane commented:

Wow, Reed13. Your experience illustrates just how much work it is to claim our relationships, when it could be so much easier.   I hope you and Robert and all your family members enjoy the holiday season, which is fast upon us.

 I read somewhere that in many ways gay people have fewer rights than even federal prisoners in jail for life with no parole. The Menendez brothers, who murdered their parents, have apparently already married several times while in prison. Sheesh!

 This holiday season, I'm grateful that my family of origin, and my partner's, accept us as a couple whole-heartedly. And we await the passage of the Marriage Equality bill in DC so we can plan our wedding.  Some dude in Utah is trying to gather support to kill the bill by the due date in January, but i think Congress is too exhausted to focus on anything but getting the hell home after a loooooooong fall.

Take care, Reed13, and everyone in the Prism Network and beyond!   An army of lovers cannot  fail!

 Jane

 

I replied:

 

Thanks for your comments.  I've just sent off the completed card to PFLAG National a week ahead of their Janury first deadline. 

 

 

 

 

The cynic in me can't help noting that Sparta's "Army of Lovers" were among the 300 who were slaughtered by the Persians.

 

 

 

 

All the best to you and yours for the holidays,

 

 

 

 

(and confusion to the remnant Bushies, Cheneyites, and other Repugnicans)

 

 

 

 

Yours for the greater good.

 

 

 

 

Reed B

 

 

 

 

Since President Obama has made noises about repealing DOMA (the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act"), PFLAG and other organizations would like him to keep his promises.

To that end, they're asking GLBT folk to send their holiday cards either via U.S. Snail or by e-mail so that the accumulated cards can be delivered to the President's attention early in the New Year.

Act now!  Operators are NOT standing by . . . you'll have to take action yourself.

 

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