Be prepared for a post of great awesomeness!!!!

Thing the First: Ginormous thank you to everyone who sent me a sparkly pink heart for my profile page!!!!! It was a veritable deluge! So to scarletladyy, crazyparakiss, paraka, waltzing_mice, spike7451, starduchess, morgana_fire, icicle33, uniquepov, kitty_fic, tigersilver, vaysh11, valinorean, teas_me, veritas03, flamingolady, ariannagray, winterstorrm, yggdrasilian, rickey_a, marlina_a, hpfangirl71, nursedarry, nimielle, tabitha666, talekayler, and freakingcrups, big smishy hugs and thanks!!! I felt so loved!!! (If I missed someone, either in the thanking or in the sending of glass hearts, it's not because I don't love you, it's because I am a flake /o\.) ♥ to ALL OF YOU EVERYWHERE!!!!

Thing the Second: OMG! The Awesome Ladies Podfic Anthology has posted!!!!! It has 104 women-centered stories from 86 authors, 47 podficcers, and 64 fandoms, and it runs a little over 7.5 hours!!! Since I follow most of the mods on twitter, I can tell you that organizing and compiling this was a huge amount of work, and I for one, am really looking forward to the rest of my week, where I can just sit and listen to short podfics celebrating the awesome women of fandom!!! You can download the whole thing (as mp3 or m4b) or you can download the individual files. So what are you waiting for? >>GO NOW!!!!<<

And to bessyboo, cantarina1, sophinisba, podklb, knight_tracer, heard_the_owl, and themusecalliope, thank you so much for your work on this. It was truly a pleasure to participate, and though it was high-stress for you, it was incredibly low-stress for me! You are all Awesome Ladies!!! ♥

Thing the Third: celestlyn wrote me a Hermione/Luna Valentine's Day ficlet!!!! It's so so so awesome and I love it and just want to hug it tight to my heart! I can't link you to it, because she hasn't posted it (yet), but I will as soon as she does It's >>HERE<< and you absolutely must read it because it is so wonderfully wonderful and fills me with love and gratitude for the awesomeness of celestlyn (in particular) and fandom (in general). ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Thing the Fourth: For anyone who hasn't heard, Washington has legalized same-sex marriage, and New Jersey's state Senate passed a bill to recognize same-sex marriage as well (which Gov. Christie will veto, unfortunately, but I still count it as a win). Are we finally reaching a turning point here? I'm afraid to hope, but god help me, I do! And for a little bit of humor on the situation: Gay marriage — the end of the world?

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/77985.html.

Prop 8 Declared Unconstitutional..... Again!!!!!

I may have (possibly, maybe) cried when I heard. In fact, I kind of had a nervous breakdown (in a good way?). It actually really drove home the point to me (as if it needed to be driven) about how awful this fight is for the LGBTQ community. I don't even live in California, ultimately this decision doesn't directly effect me, but I was tied up in knots, waiting for three people that I don't know to pass judgment on all same-sex relationships. I felt completely powerless and kind of hopeless. So...yeah. When the news came, I kind of cried and broke down and shook for about 30 minutes before I could really process it.

All that aside, \o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/\o/ *spins and twirls and spins and twirls* This is a good step. A really good step. *deep breath*

Marriage Equality Approaches in Washington!!!!!

A House committee approved a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, setting the stage for final passage this week.
The House Judiciary committee advanced the measure on a 7-5 vote Monday after a public hearing. The bill could be up for a vote on the House floor as early as Wednesday. The full Senate passed the measure on a 28-21 vote last Wednesday. Once passed by the House, the bill goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature. (AP)

A good week for Marriage Equality! Let's hope that it's followed by more good weeks!

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/77032.html.

( A smallish semi-depressing rant )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/55300.html.

I'm going to be honest, I didn't think it would happen. Everyone else said that it would, but I knew that something would block it, or it wouldn't come to a vote, or it would lose by 1 lousy vote. But for once, my pessimism did not play out!!!!

Gay marriage legal in New York State after Senate passes historic bill 33-29

((I still have issues with calling it "gay marriage", but YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!))

I think I'll have some tequila to celebrate!

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/33982.html.

For those of you who haven't been following the ins and outs of the prop 8 trial, there was another important happening yesterday and today. It was kind of a matter of the-pro-prop-8-folks-wouldn't-be-that-stupid-would-they?

Yup, they would. A while back, the pro-prop-8ers filed a motion to vacate Judge Walker's ruling based upon the fact that he is gay and in a relationship with a man. I had thought we had already dealt with this in the past. You know, the fact that black judges can rule on racial issues, and women judges can rule on women's issues, and "wise latinas" can rule on both racial and women's issues. But, apparently, no. We have to go through it one more time. And...just like all the other times, it got shot down (in less than 24 hours....Judge Ware clearly had to think really hard about it).

To me, the most profound part of the ruling was as follows:

...it is inconsistent with the general principles of constitutional adjudication to presume that a member of a minority group reaps a greater benefit from application of the substantive protections of our Constitution than would a member of the majority

I just about cried when I read it. To me, this says that we are all protected by adhering to the principles of equality under the law that are set forth by our Constitution. That when we protect a minority, we are also protecting the majority (and vice versa). I wish that more people understood how important it is to our "American values" and our quality of life to adhere to the Constitution and to protect the rights of all the people in this country.

Anyway, it wasn't a surprising win. Like I said, this battle has been fought many times before, but it was a good one. Will the pro-8ers appeal? You bet. I'm no legal scholar, but it seems like at this point, they are just trying to stall the process as much as possible.

If you want to read more, go here

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/32740.html.

1) I just watched the first disc of The Big Bang Theory. On a hunch, I checked out Sheldon/Leonard slash. It exists. *brain explodes* Now I will say that I can slash just about anyone in my head and make it work out okay, but Sheldon is the most asexual creature on the face of the planet!! He is unslashable!!!! (at least in my head) It got me to thinking about how and why we slash certain people over other people. I've never had a slash malfunction before this.

2) "There's just something about you Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on it"
Now I ♥ me some Merlin/Arthur fic. I do. In fact, I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ me some Merlin/Arthur fic. As a matter of fact, I ♥ it so much that I read lots and lots of it. The result is that I have read "There's just something about you Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on it" about 9,400,003 times. The weird thing about this is that I can't figure out what I feel about it. Usually something like this would either irritate the hell out of me or make me smile. I understand why the line is there, it's just that when I read it now, it triggers this weird fight-or-flight response in me. I'm paralyzed.

3) Podficcage.
I am podficcing. In fact, I am working on a rather epic (for me) podfic (H/D). It should come out to about 4 hours long (I think). I was in the middle of recording it when I came down with the the cold/flu/bronchitis/lost voice/horribleness of death. So...I polished the first part and now I am just hanging around waiting for my voice to come back from vacation and my coughing to go back to where ever it came from. Big, big thanks to ladydeth12 for listening to the first 45 minutes of it and waving cheerleading pom poms and giving me the enthusiasm to continue on in the face of perils and the treachery of my body. I also have a few more stories in the line-up. AND I got a brand spanking new microphone. I might not be good at podficcing, but that doesn't mean that I can't do it with zest and enthusiasm.

4) I'm generally more than a little skeptical of polls, but this one cheered me up: More people support Marriage Equality than don't. I'm not sure I believe it, but the fact the the numbers are even in a place where they can be skewed in this direction is positive. Who knows, maybe someday, a majority of people will actually believe that LGBT people are...well...people.

5) Don't look now, but I think that spring might actually be in the immediate future. 70 degrees today!!!!!!!!!

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/25468.html.

Curing Gay People? There's an App for That

This app as a 4+ rating in the Apple Store, meaning "Applications in this category contain no objectionable materials." However, the fact that this exists at all is horribly offensive to me. Additionally, the fact that it tells impressionable kids that being gay is immoral and satanic is incredibly dangerous. These people who say that they preach love don't ever seem to blink an eye at the fact that they are driving young people to suicide.

Now, I believe that the developers themselves rate the Apps and that Apple doesn't interfere unless someone causes a stink about it. So...go cause a stink.

Although I am an atheist, myself, I am so glad that I have good friends who actually practice the tenets of Christianity (and other religions) with honor and faith and love. Otherwise, I would be sorely tempted to tar all people who practice religion with the same brush. As it is, I am reminding myself that those who are the most vocal, do not necessarily represent the whole.

Update: Apple has pulled the app! 03/23/11

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/23940.html.

The Maryland Senate has passed a Freedom to Marry Bill. It will be introduced to the House soon. I keep hoping that at some point, we will reach a tipping point here. But ultimately, DoMA is going to have to go down.... Still...... YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Maryland Marriage Bill Passes Senate floor's final reading 25-21

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/21526.html.

"Much of the legal landscape has changed in the 15 years since Congress passed DOMA. The Supreme Court has ruled that laws criminalizing homosexual conduct are unconstitutional. Congress has repealed the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Several lower courts have ruled DOMA itself to be unconstitutional. Section 3 of DOMA will continue to remain in effect unless Congress repeals it or there is a final judicial finding that strikes it down, and the President has informed me that the Executive Branch will continue to enforce the law. But while both the wisdom and the legality of Section 3 of DOMA will continue to be the subject of both extensive litigation and public debate, this Administration will no longer assert its constitutionality in court."

I wish that my mood theme had "cautiously hopeful".....

President Obama Declares DOMA Unconstitutional, Justice Department Will No Longer Defend Law

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/21316.html.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRG!



This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/18992.html.

Still to go to the governor's desk, but it is looking good! *crosses fingers*

Hawaii Senate Passes Civil Unions

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/17647.html.

"The U.S. House of Representatives approved a stand-alone bill to repeal the 17-year-old law barring lesbian or gay military personnel from serving openly. "

House Approves DADT Repeal

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/16126.html.

Here are the roughly 2 hours of arguments that occurred yesterday in the ongoing saga of the Prop 8 Trial for those who are interested. Some of it is riveting, some of it turns the stomach, and some of it (especially the standing stuff) was completely over my head. But, it is still good to be able to see what actually happened.

( Click to View )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/15404.html.

Today was the day. The 9th Circuit Court heard the appeal of the Prop 8 case. There were two parts, the issue of standing (whether the Prop 8 Proponents or Imperial County have standing to appeal), and the actual constitutionality of the proposition. I'm a little vague on all the ins and outs, but from what I can tell, there is some serious question as to whether Judge Walker's ruling can even be appealed by the Prop 8 Proponents or Imperial County. So this can go a lot of different ways at this point and we have (again) a bit of a waiting game.

( Still, my thoughts are as follows: )

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/15288.html.

The long-awaited Pentagon study on the repeal of DADT found that (surprise!) repeal "might cause some disruption at first but would not create widespread or long-lasting problems." What a shock.

Pentagon Study Dismisses Risk Of Openly Gay Troops

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/14056.html.

Double Dose of DOMA Challenges

To my knowledge, this now will make four cases challenging DOMA making their way through the federal court system. Is it possible that DOMA might actually not be long for this world?

The other two cases:

Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Gill v. Office of Personnel Management

This entry was originally posted at http://fire-juggler.dreamwidth.org/12062.html.

DADT on Trial: VICTORY! Judge Orders Air Force to Reinstate Maj. Margaret Witt

"U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton has ordered the Air Force to reinstate flight nurse Maj. Margaret Witt. Maj. Witt was discharged from the Air Force in 2006 under the military's unconstitutional Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Judge Leighton found, after a six-day trial that ended earlier this week, that Maj. Witt's sexual orientation did not negatively impact unit cohesion or morale. In fact, as several members of Maj. Witt's former unit testified at trial, her discharge was 'devastating' and 'negatively impacted the unit.'"
-From the ACLU Blog of Rights

I find it strangely ironic that there is now one lesbian, in the entire military of the United States, who can serve openly. Does anyone else see how bizarre and contradictory this is?

In GLBT news, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was declared unconstitutional by a US District Court. This makes 3 GLBT rights cases making their way to SCOTUS.

Judge: Military's Ban On Gays Unconstitutional.