We had a large number of guests at church today because of the article published in the Orange County Register, which described the beginning of my cross-country journey on the National Marriage Equality Express Caravan. During social hour, most of my conversation partners were straight like me, so when the topic of the Caravan came up, I expected they would speak in general terms. But their personal stories spilled out.
Almost all I spoke to had direct ties to the Marriage Equality issue, because of a co-worker, or a son, or a granddaughter in a committed life partnership. They knew about some of the 1,138 rights that come with civil marriage, and wanted the government to stop discriminating against same-sex couples and their children.
Over a steaming cup of coffee, one church matriarch told me that she had no personal connection to the issue, but she cared because of the gay Americans who serve in the military, keep our communities safe as firefighters and police officers, and staff our hospitals. She thought their families should have the same rights that most American families take for granted.
After the social hour, I led a “Social Action Brainstorm,” where the church I serve considered what issues we will embrace as a community this year. Among the top priorities were feeding Orange County’s hungry, tutoring local schoolchildren, and educating ourselves about migrant laborers.
After the brainstorm, I stopped by our Board meeting, then drove to John Wayne Airport to catch Southwest flight 1005 to Oakland. Oakland is where the journey begins, Monday morning at 5:30 a.m. I’m not a morning person, but I’ve never been more motivated to get up early.
My fellow riders will include the Unitarian Universalist marine who last week, after fifteen years of military service, came out of the closet and thereby forfeited her retirement benefits. They include grey-haired grandmothers who have been together for 31 years, who are concerned not only about social security but what will happen to the body if one dies—as the other will have no legal say in the matter. Then there are the helicopter pilot, the elevator repairman, the world champion kickboxer . . . I look forward to meeting all 43 other riders tomorrow.
What will happen as people from all these varied walks of life come together on this issue, in the coming week, in the coming year? I don't know. May the road be open before us—the road to Washington, and to full equality for all American people.
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