Happy belated Father’s Day to all Dad’s out there. I didn’t get a chance to go home and visit with my family this weekend:-(. I will hopefully make it up to Rome sometime this week. I was in Chicago Thursday through Sunday and came back yesterday in time for a wedding at the Aquarium. They have a ballroom at the aquarium with the Beluga whales. Very nice. I feel a bit sorry for the whales though. Even though they are treated well–ha, ha almost whale. Ok I’m an idiot. But you have to wonder what a difference it is for them living in the vast waters of the ocean in comparison to a huge fish tank. Yes they live in tons of water now, but it is nothing compared to the miles and miles of ocean they used to roam, and with people always staring and cameras flashing all day and the noise that they wouldn’t encounter in their natural habitat. Plus just the fact that they can’t be in the darkness of the waters if they want, or breathe fresh air, or have the sun shine down on them. The band had to be very careful about the noise level. I know one of the whales came from a place in Mexico where it was being housed under a roller coaster and almost died from the trauma of the noise and vibration. There is a difference. Music is therapeutic. I hope they enjoyed it!
On Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity of being in Chicago and performing at the Chicago HRC (Human Right’s Campaign) annual dinner gala. A thanks goes out to Chris Grace and Catharine Smith, the co-chairs who allowed me the opportunity to be there. I sang at the VIP reception. It was very nice. Lorna Luft performed at the main event. She is Judy Garland’s daughter-Liza’s half-sister. It made me want to do Broadway stuff again. I also got to meet and have my picture taken with cutie-patootie Nate Berkus-seemingly a favorite of Oprah, and I can understand why;-), and also Rent’s Anthony Rapp. I absolutely love Rent. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it on stage, but I absolutely love the movie.
I love going to these things and listening to what people have to say. I volunteered at the Atlanta dinner as well. These events inspire me to make a difference. You listen to testimonials, so to speak, and you learn about struggles that you might not have been aware of before. It’s amazing to me how many people don’t realize the every day struggles that some people go through. I was talking to my band-mates last night in a break, telling them about my gig on Saturday. They were like, “What’s Human Right’s campaign?” I told them it was an organization that fights for the civil rights and liberties of gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual people. One person said, “Is that really about civil rights?”
ABSOLUTELY.
I don’t want to be able to be fired from my job because of who I am. In 34 states a person can be fired from their job because of their sexual orientation. In 44 states people can be fired from your job because of your gender identity. Can we scream, DISCRIMINATION? Hell, even our own government is one of those companies that kicks you out if they find out you are gay, hence the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. I am a bisexual individual. My last two partners have been women, but all of my other previous love interests were men. I don’t know who I’m going to fall in love with. In some states it is illegal for me to adopt a child, and because I will always identify myself as being bisexual (because this is who I am), even if I end up married to a guy someday, it will still be illegal. Other states are trying to push this issue on the ballot.
I’m personally just pissed about the politics of this administration. Why don’t we talk about what’s really going on: the war, the economy, the deficit, the disappearance of the middle class, healthcare, foreign policy, disaster response, the organization of our own government…….Yes, I think it is important for Equal Rights for all, and I do believe that gay people should have the same right to marry as others do. I just don’t want this issue being used as a distraction and a way to gather all the people who support this current administration,-the religious right wing, by-choosing an issue that they will be vehemently against so that they will forget all that in reality is really going on. After all they will be too busy rallying around this issue, so pertinent that it needs to be addressed by amending the Constitution of the United States. But in the end maybe Bush can boost his ratings from 35% to maybe, let’s say, 40%. Ah,the way to get your core followers back on your bandwagon. Whatever! Ok, a little vent and back to my point.
I want to be allowed into the hospital room of my partner if they are sick or dying. I want to be allowed to file joint taxes and receive the same benefits other married folks do, if I decide to make that decision to have a life-long partner. I want to be able to receive health care benefits for my entire family, and adoption, since I was a child adoption has always been an option in my mind; I just hope that option isn’t taken away. There are so many more things legally that could be taken away from me given the opportunity of someone to discriminate against me or any other GLBT. I just want the same rights and the same protection that everyone else has. Lots of people don’t realize because they don’t have to worry about it, or thankfully, an unfortunate circumstance hasn’t happened to them or someone they love to bring an issue to surface. Equality, rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, crazy or sane is what it’s all about. Every individual on this planet deserves an equal opportunity, equal protection, equal rights, and to be treated and respected in a way that they, themselves, would like to be treated.
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