Son of Timatollah

"The right to marry whoever one wishes is an elementary human right compared to which 'the right to attend an integrated school, the right to sit where one pleases on a bus, the right to go into any hotel or recreation area or place of amusement, regardless of one’s skin or color or race' are minor indeed. Even political rights, like the right to vote, and nearly all other rights enumerated in the Constitution, are secondary to the inalienable human rights to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence; and to this category the right to home and marriage unquestionably belongs."—Hannah Arendt, 1959 (via Sullivan).

p.s. Big congratulations to Mike and Dave (scroll down to the post titled "Front and center?" then work backwards), Mike and Aric, and other folk who now or soon are tying the knot legally!

Labels: california, gay, marriage

There is no persuasive basis for applying to statutes that classify persons on the basis of the suspect classification of sexual orientation a standard less rigorous than that applied to statutes that classify on the basis of the suspect classifications of gender, race, or religion. Because sexual orientation, like gender, race, or religion, is a characteristic that frequently has been the basis for biased and improperly stereotypical treatment and that generally bears no relation to an individual’s ability to perform or contribute to society, it is appropriate for courts to evaluate with great care and with considerable skepticism any statute that embodies such a classification. The strict scrutiny standard therefore is applicable to statutes that impose differential treatment on the basis of sexual orientation.

From yesterday's California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.

As the lawyers and legal analysts point out, this moves LGBT discrimination—well, LG discrimination, at least initially—into the realm of strict scrutiny and out of the domain of rational basis. The presumption, at least in California, is that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, is suspect.

Labels: california, gay, marriage

Congratulations to Californians, where today the California Supreme Court ruled today that preventing same-sex marriages was unconstitutional under the California constitution.

Do not be deceived by the religious right or their Republican operatives that this is appointed activist judges infringing on the will of the citizenry by usurping the role of the legislature: (1) It is entirely appropriate for citizens to seek redress through the courts; this is not "appointed activist judges." These judges have been subject to citizen re-approval through the common modified-Missouri-plan; and (2) The legislature of California has twice passed legislation making same-sex marriages legal, but the governator vetoed the laws both times, since the case the decision of which was announced today was already in the courts.

While in many ways I would love to live in California, for the time being I'll continue to work within Florida (a) to ensure that LGBT relationships are not denigrated by the Florida populace through the inane Amendment 2, and (b) to gain legal recognition of the rights that are mine, that are jointly Mack's and mine, by grace of having been born.

Wherever you are, GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

Labels: california, gay, gay marriage

After the visit with Paul and Teenie in Santa Cruz, I flew to San Diego where ERAU's Joint Senates Coordinating Committee—faculty Speakers from the three campuses, Vice Speakers, Board of Trustee delegates— met with our new Provost.


Mahmut Reyhanoglu and Bob Oxley

San Diego at Night

After two days of meetings, flew back to northern California. Spent a couple of nights in San Francisco, visiting with other old friends, including Ken Grant, a friend from the second tour at MIT (1982-1994), and Mark Dyer, a roommate from high school, and my gay buddy of the time.

Stupid me didn't get a picture of Mark. I did get a picture of an older Chrysler Imperial, parked in the Castro, for Mack who loves Chrysler Imperials of all model years.


Chrysler Imperial, Year Unknown

After we had dinner, Mark and I met up with Evan Klein, a friend of mine from the original MIT attempt (1974-1976).

Then, I tooled down the peninsula to Palo Alto for the 20th annual get together by participants (or, as in my case, former participants) of the Usenet newsgroup soc.motss. "Motss" = "members of the same sex," for those not in the know. Events I participated in included a tour of Google, visited the Computer History Museum, and several fantastic meals. On Sunday I spent some quiet time including a visit to the Stanford campus (which, I think, was actually my number one college pic, but my dad forbade me to go "to where all those goddam hippies are," so instead I went to MIT and hung out with the hippies) and got to spend a little time with my good friend Doron Meyer.


Google Campus

Computer History Museum

Mike Thomas at the Motss Con Reception

Hoover Institute, Stanford University Campus

Yours Truly at Alice's Restaurant, Woodside, California

Note: Not that Alice's Restaurant.

As noted below, got home in the wee hours of Monday, 20 August. But, it was a great trip. Thanks to all who took time out of their schedules that I could visit with them!

Labels: california, con, pictures, soc.motss