Thank You

To all of you who have put your lives on the line, to those who gave their lives, to those who continue to fight, thank you. Thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty time and again.

I appreciate everything you've done to allow us the freedoms we take for granted.


Please don't let their sacrifices be in vain. Honor the fallen, thank the veterans, and respect the serving.


~xxx~

Hop Against Homophobia Winner

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by during the Hop Against Homophobia. 


I would like for this to become a yearly event, but even more so, I would love for it to become obsolete, a relic of a time before society collectively came together to accept everyone for who they are and quit judging each other according to arbitrary standards. After it became okay to just be. :D


<steps off soapbox>


And now, the winner...

Layladawna

Congratulations! I'll be sending you an email with more details.

~xxx~

Love is...

Officially, the Hop Against Homophobia ended yesterday, but I had one more thing to say, and today just seemed the right day to say it.

You see, today is my anniversary. Spouse and I have been married 23 years today. I have spent more time with him than without.

I'm blessed. I have someone who loves me, who stands beside me, and behind me, no matter what. He lifts me up, holds me high, and grounds me all at the same time. He's there for me, and I try to be there for him.

I love you Spouse. I probably don't say it enough, but I try to show it every day.

We're lucky. We have that piece of paper that says no one can keep me away from him in case something catastrophic happens. No one can say I'm not allowed to be by his side, or him by mine.

Thousands of people are not so lucky. They've found their one, the other half of their soul, but they are denied that golden ticket that says the government has legitimatized their union. Our elected officials, our community 'leaders', have their heads up their asses.

The reality is that getting the government to accept the fundamental fact that love is love is taking too fucking long. All couples, regardless of either partner's plumbing or DNA, should be afforded equal protection.

We have our marriage license, but we've taken extra steps to ensure we're always protected. Living wills and medical powers of attorney stating exactly who has the right to make decisions for us in the event we are incapacitated. Financial powers of attorney so we both have access to the funds to support those decisions. Last wills and testaments to indicate who gets what in case the unthinkable happens. Beneficiary declarations so the funds go to the people we've chosen and not the government.

What I'm trying to say is that recognizing that everyone deserves the right to marry is just one avenue of protection. Loading up other legal documents can provide security for your loved ones, and the ammunition to tell administration officials to shove their antiquated beliefs and regulations where the sun don't shine. It's not true equity, but it is protection.

I'm no expert. I don't claim to be one. Please do your research. Talk to professionals. Most importantly, talk to your partner about what fits your relationship. Decide together what works for you, what won't, and by all means, do what's right for you. It's no one else's business, nor should it be. Don't let anyone pressure you into, or out of, what your partner means to you.

Because everybody deserves their happily ever after, whether the government chooses to accept it or not.

~xxx~

Hop Against Homophobia

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia. Its a day to raise awareness, and celebrate diversity. In short, it's time to erase homophobia. And let's stop  trans*phobia and *queerphobia while we're at it. 

In fact, fuck *phobias in general. 

I'm going to co-opt this space to preach a little. I want to stop saying "It's okay to be gay." Why? Because no one should ever need a qualifier to be okay. Whatever you are, wherever you fit best in the alphabet soup, or out of it, it's okay. It's okay to simply be who you are. 

Gay, straight, trans, bi, tall, short, fat, thin, geeky, smart, stupid. It just doesn't matter. It's okay to be.

No matter who you are, what you are, or who you want to be, go for it. Be who you were born to be. That's all you can do, and the rest will fall into place.

It's okay to be.

What do you think?

Leave a comment below with your email address for a chance to win anything from my backlist. Contest ends May 20, and winners will be announced May 21.

~xxx~

Music Monday - One Love

Let's all get together and feel all right.

Lyrics:
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One love)
Hear the children crying (One heart)
Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love)
There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One love)
So shall it be in the end (One heart)
Alright, "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
"Let's get together and feel all right."
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One love)
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One song)
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin', "One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right."
I'm pleading to mankind (One love)
Oh, Lord (One heart) Whoa.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Let's get together and feel all right.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Let's get together and feel all right.

~xxx~

Suit Up Sunday

A man could provide much inspiration, and the woman will do the rest.

~xxx~

Suit Up Sunday - Mid-Seduction

He's ready for you, he wants you, and he's going to get you. 

~xxx~

Kilt Friday - No Pants Edition

Some kilt fans celebrating No Pants Day :D

~xxx~

Happy No Pants Day

It's the first Friday in May. You know what that means.... Yes! No Pants Day! Today also happens to be Star Wars day. It's the perfect reason to don those Darth Vader Underoos and strut your stuff.

It also means that Bennie's Wish is finally now available from Dreamspinner Press.

May the 4th be with you. But not your pants.



Blurb:

For years, Ally Theodisius has suspected his “friends” have been humoring him to stay in his good graces—and his wallet—so when a No Pants Day breakfast ends in his humiliation, he finally takes a stand.

When model Bennie Arnold runs into Ally, his first impression is of a cute, adorably dimpled writer in dire need of a real friend. Bennie would be happy to fill the role. There’s just one little problem: he’s going commando, and it happens to be No Pants Day. If he has any hope of getting his wish, Bennie will have to use his best assets to convince Ally he’s the real deal.


~xxx~

Tattoo Tuesday - Pants Optional

~xxx~