She + Me + You + I = Us Situation

"I could hear you thinkin', how to love a shadow. Turning in your sleep. Running away from him." - Swell Session, All of Me (Vs Mark De Clive-Lowe)

I keep wanting to preface these posts by promising that this blog won't become a "marriage" or "relationship" spot but I can't really promise that nor, ultimately, should I. My web writing has always been best when it comes from the heart or passionately from the head and this, obvs, is what's on my mind of late.

So, no  promises.

As the reality of being on the path to becoming some of The Marrieds settles in and Tiffany and I talk more to each other (and online) about our future, I'm finding myself even more frustrated about the state of marriage equality in this country.

With our first discussion of finances, it became apparent how much of a boon marriage is in fiscal terms. From tax savings to health insurance choices to life insurance policies to simple combined income, we're in a position to be much better off than we currently are because we can get married in a legal way.

Those who know me know that I've been an advocate for marriage equality. I support Human Rights Campaign, the ACLU, and Equality California with my dollars but I'm feeling an even stronger pull to be publicly active. To rally. To shout. To not wait for what seems to me to be the logical conclusion of this battle but to push it forward.

In 2010, I've thought a lot about privilege. Racial privilege, class-based privilege, location-based privilege. I must, however, accept my own privileges. Of being a man.  Of being middle-class.

Of being born heterosexual. 

I'm lucky. Lucky to have found love in a partner who loves me back.

I'm also lucky that we happen to be of different genders.

Otherwise, in most of this country, love would be all we'd have. Marriage not even an option. Sometimes constitutionally so.

And so, as I prepare to take advantage of these grand privileges afforded me, I guess I do make a promise: to fight for equality. For you and the ones you love.

Our government shouldn't like my luck more than yours.