So I was reading this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080616/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage
and I got all teary and I was thinking how lucky I am to live in this historic time in American history and how sad that we have to have a time like this. So I missed the hippy era, probably just as well. So I missed the emancipation proclomation and I missed Martin Luthor King Jr. and I missed suffrage and all those steps toward equality and true freedom in America. But here I am living in a time when a woman and a black man are serious contenders for the job of President of the United States and gay couples can finally (in some places) publically exchange vows and proclaim themselves life mates.

Not in my state though. In Michigan gay marriage has been banned. It's sucky, but I believe it's better to stay and fight than run away. I am not gay but that's just luck. I am a lucky woman who has the love of a fabulous man who couldn't please me more and we're getting married. Because we can. Because he happened to be born a man and I happened to be born a woman and we happened to be perfect for each other. If he was a woman, I would love him no less, but I wouldn't be able to marry him and that makes me sad.

I am not sure people are born gay or straight or somewhere in between. I think people are born babies and I think all babies like boobs and have no interest in penises, except perhaps their own. I don't think they spend much time thinking about the gender of the person they're going to want to spend their life with. When I fill out those forms that ask me if I'm gay or straight, I've not been sure what to answer in the past. Oh I have loved women, but I never found a woman that I thought I could live with for any length of time. Women are more trouble then men, in my experience. They are often better lovers, but not as often very good partners. At least for me. Obviously other peoples experience in this area is different, since so many women have partners and some of them are quite happy to be their partners. I think I could have as easily been a lesbian as a straight woman. I've never been as attracted to looks as personality, so what's this difference if they have boobs or facial hair? (or both?) Now I say I'm straight, but only by way of luck. I used to say, "I don't discriminate on the basis of gender." And that was true. I didn't discriminate on the basis of race either. I did, however, discriminate on the basis of religion on occasion. That is to say, the minute somebody started trying to convert me one way or another, it was over.

I still remember one guy saying "It makes me sad to know that a sweet girl like you is going to hell." There were so many things wrong with that sentence, I had to dump him.

I remember conversations I had with people about gay marriage and homosexuality in general. And I remember somebody, I can't remember who exactly, was absolutely sure that gay people were, by nature, promiscuous. That gay marriage was pointless because they all ran around humping each other anywya. That's why they all had aids. I remember thinking this person must think gay people are like hamsters. You just put two in the same cage and they'll start humping. Really. People are people. Gay, straight, asexual, they still love. Yes. Asexual people can love too. Because guess what. Love and sex aren't the same thing. I hope that wasn't the news flash of the day.

The American Civil Liberties Union gets alot of slack from "conservatives" for picking up "liberal" causes, but I think even the Religious Right can't be whining about this latest case. It seems a Christian librarian in Missouri was asked to be excused during a Harry Potter promotion because she believed that the books promoted occultism. Now I'm sure you know that I think people who go on about that business are freaks. And I'm sure you know that I think that people should do the job they are hired to do regardless of their religious beliefs and if they can't, they should get another job. But in this case... is it in her job description to dress up as a witch to promote a book? Not likely. It might be in her job description to take part in promotions, but what if she'd been sick that day? Would her absence have destroyed the whole project? Anyway, the woman allegedly received a 10 day suspension without pay for asking to be excused from work that day and, according to the law suit, was treated so badly on her return, she felt she had to quit.

As usual, I am skeptical because I'm the skeptical sort. I wonder was she a bitch about the whole thing, or did she simply request a vacation day that day? If all is what it seems, then she has my support. Even though I think she's silly for hating Harry, and even though I am Pagan and her reasons had to do with her Christianity. Why? Because when I am asked to promote the latest Left Behind Series or Anti-Choice rally, I want to be able to say no and not get fired.

Having been born in South Carolina, I always take a particular interest in their fundamentalist foibles. Now they've got not one but three bills on their way to becoming law that is going to upset the constitutionalists among us. Perhaps myself included. Perhaps not. It all depends on how it's handled. You can read all about it in this Associated Press story.

First, let's take a moment to examine our US Constitution, or at least the Amendment that will be called into question, that is the first. It states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Having read that, let us look at the laws that the South Caroline legislature is considering. The first would create a liscence plate with a cross on it and the word "I believe". The money from sales of this plate would go into the general fund. I personally have no problem with this. Provided any old religion can buy tags too. For example, Jews should be able to design their own plate, maybe with a Star of David on it, and Wiccans should be able to get a plate with a pentacle that says "Harm none" and I should be able to get a plate with a Caudecus that says "Hermes Rocks". But it doesn't look like that's going to happen because when asked about Wicca in particular,

"Well, that's not what I consider to be a religion," McGill said. And Buddhism? "I'd have to look at the individual situation. But I'm telling you, I firmly believe in this tag."

Well then, fuck you. No tags allowed for bigots! Didn't they get the message a couple years ago when the "Choose Life" plates weren't allowed because they didn't have "Preserve Choice" plates to go along with them? This is the same kind of deal. When there's more than one side, they all have to be represented. Otherwise you're interfering with other peoples' right of expression. End of story.

Next on the ballot is a provision to make absolutely clear that prayers may be offered before council meetings and I'm cool with that too. Provided, of course, anyone who wants to pray out loud may do so. At our groups we let people call out to their own Gods and Goddesses, I'm sure the councils can do this too. No big deal. In fact, I'd like to offer a prayer of my own.

"Blessed Hermes, luck-bringing messenger of the Gods, be with us now as we deliberate these things. Watch over us and guide us that our words may be understood and that our decisions may be just."

Short and sweet. And if I can't say it, you're interfering with the free exercise of my religion.

The finally law religion-centered law up for debate in the South Carolina legislature (not that any of these are really being debated by anyone inside the legislature) is an effort to set up a public display of key legal documents called "Foundations of American Law and Government" which will include the Ten Commandments. You know, I have no problem with this either and I don't think it violates the first amendment. It doesn't interfere with free exercise of religion and it does attempt to establish a religion. The display will also include the Declaration of Independance, the Bill of Rights, the Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. The question here would be whether or not the Ten Commandments really are a Foundation of American Law and Government. Are they? Maybe. It's possible. But it's also debateable. I think I'd like to see some documentation that they are. I'm not sure Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech is either though. And I really like Martin Luther King Jr.

You'll recall from my earlier blogs that a civil rights commission was reviewing policies on religion in prisons and well-known prison chaplain Patrick McCollum appeared before that commission to testify on the treatment of Pagan prisoners.

Well, we haven't heard much about that after it happened, but the UK seems to be a step ahead of us. Under advisement of the Pagan Federation (and I'm sure other groups as well), they have revised their rules to require and allow certain religious paraphenelia. The Pagans gave a little to get a little of course as Jenny Percival of the Westminster Editor reports "the Pagans have decided to tone down what are seen as the more exotic and striking forms of their worship and ritual, such as carrying flaming torches." which makes perfect sense to me. While prisoners still can't have athames or swords (a decision I heartily agree with!) Pagan prisoners will be allowed to collect and decorate wands and Muslim prisoners will have prayer mats.

Not everyone is thrilled about this new development and there have been more than a few disrespectful remarks. But this gives me an opportunity to point out good, unbiased reporting versus bad, biased reporting.

First, take a look at this article http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Pagan-prisoners-allowed--twig.4071480.jp

Some negative comments were recorded. Word Pagan is capitalized, putting it on equal footing with other religions, such as Christianity and Islam, which are always capitalized and the article is forthright and to the point. Nice.

Now, take a look at this one.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=565823&in_page_id=1766&in_a_source=&ito=1490

Paganism is not capitalized and check it out; no Pagans were interviewed in the creation of this article. Only the detractors.

Take a look at the starting sentance of each article. They're almost identical but...

The first one says: "Prison officers have been ordered to allow Pagan prisoners to take twigs into their cells to use as magic wands."

And the second one says: " Prison bosses have been instructed to let pagan inmates keep twigs in their cells...to use as wands."

What a difference capitalization and a couple of dotdotdots make. Kudos to Jenny Percival. James Slack on the other hand... is a slacker.

I don't think I'd want a wand if I were in prison. Not that I plan to go. I just don't ever use a wand. I can understand why incense and candles would be a problem and I probably wouldn't get those. I think I'd want a cauldron with water and sea salt. I think that's the only thing I'd really need (if I couldn't have candles). Except maybe on Beltane. Then I'd need a wand... and a my Priest.