News, All Sorts

Ah, Monday. How very refreshing. Most especially so after the events of Sunday’s PrideFest, at which my partner and I managed both feats of marching and socializing! And I have the sunburn to prove it. That parade seems to grow in length every year, and the crowds were as many leagues deep as I’ve seen them. I touted a sign in my partner’s name, and some 25 volunteers handed out candy and blew bubbles. All, as such, helped us as we undertook the very first steps of my partner’s new campaign for 2010. Indeed, an election to the office of Representative lasts barely as long as the campaign trail that leads to it! Some Members are just happless enough to have been elected to a contested seat, and the attack ads asperse them already. Some are elected, and begin campaigning immediately for the next election two years down the road!

Anyway, what I really wanted to post are a few details from last week, when I was in DC. Of couse, we attended the Congressional Luau on Thursday, but let me first narrate the wild tale of what happened an hour before our beloved picnic at the White House.

As many know, the LGBT community is in an uproar over President Obama’s seeming lack of regard for our civil rights issues. His administration has done little thus far to curb the military layoffs consequent upon a policy called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, which allows for the dismissal of gays and lesbians from any branch of armed services, based solely upon their sexuality. Then there is the Defense of Marriage Act, which renders non-transferable any marriage certificate obtained in a state that allows same-sex marriage, to a state that does not. In other words, couples having been married in Iowa, will discover their marriage means nothing in Nebraska. The Obama administration, several weeks ago, condoned this Act, in a press release that adopted untoward terminology in the description of same-sex relationships. Needless to say, all of this has incensed the community to no end, and many are making public, their dissatisfaction.

Rewind to last Thursday, my partner and I had arranged to attend the DNC fundraiser hosted by Joe Biden, which would raise money for the Democratic Party, from LGBT donors. As we arrived, protesters from the other side of the street, derided us for being hypocritical” Shame on you, supporting Obama when he doesn’t care about you!” In all honesty, I saw reason in what they were saying, and I myself am quite saddened that Obama has yet to make good on several key campaign promises. What I did not agree to, was punishing the entire Democratic party for one man’s actions. If we do not support Democrats, we’ll end up with Republicans, and they may ennact even worse legislaton at the expense of the LGBT community. I certainly feel safer with Democrats, and know that Mr. Obama will, in time, attend to our civil rights. In the meantime, I cannot help but feel that many political activists are refusing to see the entirety of this issue. Rarely if ever, does a bill come to pass that affects only one group of people. Likewise, to protest the DNC’s fundraising will hurt us more than help us in our quest for civil rights.

So not to linger on this unfortunate issue, let me get to the picnic.

We arrived just shortly after it had begun! We were led through the White House by numerous staff, each of whom greeted us wit, “Aloha!” How very authentic. At last, we reached the front lawns, and beheld some 250 banquet tables arranged in a large circle, with grill stations and bars in each of the 4 directions. Memberers of Congress and their families were in attendance, as well as White House staff. The menu was not altogether vegan-friendly, with features primarily of meat and vegetables doused in butter. I did find a sadly neglected bowl of greens, and ate them with vinegar dressing, but I was left with my stomach growling!

The event itself was lovely. President Obama and the First Lady made appearances, and Rahm Emanuel had the unenviable luck to be chosen for the dunking tank, where many members of Congress were all t0o-eager to give him a plunge!

Owing to our attendance of the DNC event, my partner and I were woefully overdressed in suits and ties, thoug a lei helped mitigate our formality. But other partiers were decked out in hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts. Spring was everywhere, and I had the best time sharing stories and experiences with fellow Congressional Spouses and Members.

It was awe-inspiring to stand mere steps from the front facade of the White House, that I might easily have reached out and touched the storied building with my hand, or passed even into its vestibule. So also, I could barely believe myself and the reality of my being there, when I walked right up to the famed White House fountain, which is ever present in news coverage and whenver DC is the talk of the hour.

Now that’s one way to spend a Thursday!