'MO - October 2008 - (Page 8)

community VOICES 1,138 Rights: Let’s Get There Have you ever heard someone say, “Life has a way of changing you”? I never really understood that. Do people really change? Well, they do and sometimes it’s the result of a moment in time that you could never imagine. I lived such a moment and it changed me forever. It’s difﬁcult for some to understand my passion for equality. For me, it’s difﬁcult NOT to demand equality! October is LGBT History Month, and on October 11th it’s National Coming Out Day. I believe our time as a community is now. So in the spirit of October let’s make some history and speak up for legal recognition. There are 1138 federal rights and protections provided by a legally recognized marriage. With the passage of the domestic partnership registry we have gained some, but nowhere near all, of the rights protecting most other Americans. There is a way to do our part right now. There is someone who could use our support, our governor, Christine Gregoire. Her signing of the domestic partnership registry is her gift to us and we need to stand up and let her hear our voice of thanks. Her commitment to our full rights is certain and unwavering. You may say, “Well, it’s not marriage! I want marriage.” But, I just bet if you and I stand up and use our voice we will see marriage and we will see the world we want to live in. Equality does not need to be a dream, it can be a reality, but it’s going to take you and I to be that change. Use your vote to tip the tide and ride the wave to victory. I have to believe our time has come. Our ﬁght can be won. A quote that I have come to love and hold close in my thoughts: “The moment we stop caring is the moment we start dying.” Martin Luther King said those words 35 years ago. How true those words are to me. May they inspire you. Charlene Strong is a Seattle activist and co-producer of the ﬁlm, for my wife , which recounts the tragedy of the death of her wife, Kate Fleming, and Charlene’s journey of discovery as an activist for marriage equality. It premieres at the Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, October 19, 2008. For details go to www.seattlequeerﬁlm.com. PHOTO BY ANDREA WALKER By Charlene Strong, activist Click here to register to vote. Click here to conﬁrm that you are registered to vote. Have Questions About The Market? -- View answers to FAQs about changes in the economy. -- Learn about the safety of your bank or credit union deposits. - - Talk to a counselor for free if you’re experiencing mortgage trouble. The Washington Department of Financial Institutions has information available for you. For more information, visit: http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/economy.htm 8 celebrating seattle’s gay community https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/secure/pages/Onlinevoterregistration.aspx http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/OSOS/VoterVault/Pages/MyVote.aspx http://www.seattlequeerfilm.com http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/economy.htm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - October 2008

'MO- October 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices ’mo-BIZ: MGS Consulting Services GLAAD To Be Aboard Pet Project Instant Activist Sports: Jet City Hoops Tips Off Pro-Equality Candidates Philadelphia Is All About The Love Parenthood Form & Function: Strip It Off For The Holidays Gay City Health Project: Gay Men’s Health Summit The 13th Annual Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Capitol Hill Guide SceneOut: People@Places Q&A With Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark ’mo-Single Q&A

'MO - October 2008

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