And so it ends

The Pride festival was this weekend in San Francisco. No numbers have
surfaced as to how many out-of-staters got same-sex hitched while
visiting for Pride, but speculation places the number pretty high. I
overheard conversations about a few non-California couples tying the
knot.

This photo is all that's left of a once proud feather boa. It was
pathetically blowing across the stone sidewalk of the Civic center as
I made my way to work today.

World Peace Through Dancing

It's rare that I post a link to a video, but this just made me feel wonderful, and I wanted to share it with anyone I could.

No matter what you think of his dancing, or of the dancing of anyone else in this video, you can't help but feel good. And isn't that what dancing is all about?


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

The screams of joy and laughter of the people joining this guy remind me just how much we all are the same. I wish I'd been in Alamo Square when he was here in San Francisco.

And, yes, this was a corporate-sponsored project. Kudos to the company that sponsored it. (You'll have to watch the video all the way to the end to find out who it is.

Peace. Love. Dance. Live.

No Stay!

From the Public Information Officer of the California Supreme Court:

California Supreme Court Denies Rehearing and Stay in Marriage Cases.

Decision to become final on June 16 at 5:00 p.m.

San Francisco—The California Supreme Court today filed an order in the Marriage Cases (S147999; decision filed May 15, 2008), denying requests to stay its decision until after the November 2008 election and denying petitions for rehearing.

The rehearing petitions were denied by a 4-3 vote. Chief Justice Ronald George, and Justices Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar, and Carlos Moreno voted to deny rehearing. Justices Marvin Baxter, Ming Chin, and Carol Corrigan would have granted rehearing.

The order further specified that the decision of the court filed on May 15, 2008, will become final on June 16, 2008, at 5 p.m.

The full text of the order is online at: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/presscenter/newsreleases/NR31-08.PDF

There are going to be lots of people married before the initiative goes before the voters in November.

And so it begins

It's June, which is the month the gay community celebrates Pride.
Since I moved here in 2001, I've always been impressed by how much the
entire City goes out for Pride. Statistics indicate that as many as
35% of San Francisco identifies as gay, lesbian, bi, or trans, so it's
not a huge surprise, I suppose.

Here is the small breeze that announces the approach of the oncoming
storm. Advertisements for the celebration have gone up in MUNI
stations throughout the City. Soon Market street will be festooned
with rainbow flags from the bay to the Castro and queer tourists will
crowd trains, busses, bars and the sidewalks in this yearly festival
of diversity and solidarity.

With the recent California Supreme court decision making the way for
same-sex marriage starting June 17, this year we all have much of
which to be proud. I expect many tourists to come here this year.
Many more than usual. And they should! Couples should come to get
married. Even if it's not recognized in their home states, it has so
much meaning. (If it didn't have meaning, the closed-minded wouldn't
be fighting so hard to deny people they think of as "lesser" that
right. But I digress.)

So, this is a month in which we all should celebrate.

Celebrate our victories.

Celebrate our love.

Celebrate who we are.