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

I just took a minute to check the news and voila…some amazing news just hit the airwaves:

Vermont has become the 4th state in America to legalize gay marriage!

Wow – how, you ask, did that happen?  Particularly when most of us were resigned to the fact Vermont’s  anti-gay governor’s veto would turn back the legislature’s majority vote?  Well -there’s a law in Vermont that states if enough of a majority of the legislature weighs in, in favor of a measure, a governor’s veto can be overcome.  And, that’s exactly what happened!

I read this just at the same time they are talking on MSNBC that a recent poll shows only 23% of America states they are republicans.  Obviously, this is a time those who think from a republican mindset need to evaluate their positions.  Rush Limbaugh are you listening?

Click here for more details on the Vermont vote.

Earlier today, I had a blast protesting with other GLBT’s and allies in Ocala, Florida.  We started out by holding signs in front of City Hall, about 15 of us, as directed by national organizers…

We then realized there wasn’t alot of traffic going by because the street in front of city hall wasn’t a ‘main drag’.  So we had the brilliant idea of going where most of Ocala’s main traffic rolls by – on the square.

Down we went to the square and we had a good time waving to traffic.  I especially enjoyed one of the woman’s signs which said – Gay Veteran, Still Fighting!  And another, which stated, powerfully – How about I vote on YOUR marriage???  We had lots going by in their cars giving us the ‘thumbs up’ sign, waving and honking their horns.  I was especially successful getting attention using my dog Lucy.  She is a cutie, afterall!

I hope that these sorts of protests are just the start of something big and even more invigorating and effective for the GLBT community and GLBT equality.  Lord knows we need a ‘Stonewall 2.0′!

We must be clear what we think about legislation like Prop 8 in California and Amendment 2 here in Florida.  I’ve already begun reaching out to the leaders of local and national GLBT organizations to see how we can grow what we’ve begun here in Ocala, Florida!