I was pleased to see that Dr. Peter Beilenson (who I remember as the Director of Health in Baltimore City, my home town) was quoted recently in the Washington Post for defining the lack of allowing same sex partners to marry as a ‘public health’ problem!  Now I know why I always loved this guy.

According to Beilenson…

“…what about the strong body of evidence that married couples fare much better, both physically and psychologically, than unmarried, cohabiting couples? This evidence alone illustrates that denying same-sex couples access to civil marriage is, quite simply, relegating them to inferior health status.”

Beilenson doesn’t stop there.  What he said next really made me mad about marriage inequality…

“Compared with unmarried partners, married couples have lower rates of depression and substance abuse, make fewer doctor visits, and suffer lower rates of overall mortality. Elderly married adults have lower health-care costs and have a lower likelihood of needing nursing-home care. Children of married parents do better as well — experiencing better physical health into adulthood.”

As Beilenson says, how can we as a society deny certain members of our community these ‘protections’, protections heterosexually married citizens take for granted?  Hey – I pay taxes too and am no different from straight couples who do.

And yet, I am denied this choice. Some might say each individual cannot be reduced to a health statistic, but the facts are thus: because I can’t choose to marry the person I desire, because I am denied that choice, I may be more at risk for some of the health problems Beilenson mentions above.

I was just talking with a gay Californian today who, even though they were single, said they felt, for the first time, like a whole person, after passage of Proposition 8.  This story illustrates the health benefits of choice.

Be sure you read the entire article here.  And, the direct link is here – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031401559.html

Hello there!  It’s so good to be home again.  I returned in the wee hours a couple of mornings ago, after winging across the U.S. (four stops in all – Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston and then Orlando).  Geesh – and here I thought the one layover in Las Vegas on the way to San Francisco was a pain!   Plus we endured bad weather that delayed our landing in Florida and a fire on the runway in San Antonio.  Well I guess Southwest Airlines has spoiled me.  I am grateful to have landed safely.  And, it was all SO worth it…

I brought home many fine memories and pictures from my San Francisco adventure.  And no, I didn’t leave my heart in San Francisco (errr…well, maybe a piece!).  

On the fun side, I am happy to report that, although the trip was too short, I was able to enjoy tours of San Fran staples such as the coastal redwoods, Sausalito, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, and the city.  Did you know that San Franciscans love their bread!?!  And I did too!  I’d like to thank Cioppino’s, on Fisherman’s Wharf, for serving up some tasty clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, which was my ‘last supper’ on the trip. (more…)