sea, sea puede

The Courage Campaign folks have made a video out of the “don’t divorce us/our friends” images they collected this winter. It’s good. Like Milk, it comfortably normalizes the conversation - “Hey, these are real people wanting simple things.” And I think they articulate a significant piece of the picture.

But neither Milk nor Fidelity carries the punch I feel - and maybe that’s intentional, but perhaps risky too? Or maybe we just need a continuum of voices, from measured and simple to the heart-and-soul-tearing “this is how it really feels.”

We are, I think, trying to make the conversation accessible and non-threatening to straight people — too much pain and honesty unsettles folks, and can make them run. But somehow we also need to communicate the depth of what’s at stake here. Fidelity and Milk are good steps. But I think that there are other steps too, that will require soul-bearing outside of the community as well as in.

And, I think that ultimately, the community has to become everybody. Yes, I really do believe we need to queer the world, in the sense of opening freedoms and possibilities to all folks, not just those who feel far enough along a continuum that they have no choice. When the conversation becomes a question not just of whether two girls or two guys should be able to marry, but one of compassion for and the integrity of love - for all that the heart loves - then we humans can effect the sea change that will be the measure of true equality and peace.