I went to the sparsely attended marriage equality rally on Valentine's Day. It is one of those things that I am so glad I went to even though I really didn't want to. Not want to in the sense that I didn't want to go stand in the cold and take a bus home kind of sense. So I went, stood in the cold and then I just walked home. Screw the NFTA and their fare increase! I often walk home in protest. The rally as indicated in my second to last journal was at Niagara Square in front of the "phallic" city hall as so pointed out by Sam Hoyt. Anyways, I am really glad that I went because all these people had great things to say and these politicians all made great efforts to be there. There was absolutely no media that showed up to cover the event and there was maybe about 30 of us in attendance. I want to thank these politicians for showing up to support this movement even if there was little or no political advantage in doing so. At least you are getting a little recognition from my blog. I regret not taking notes so I could be a better reporter.

Here is the people who showed up minus a handful who came a little late.




If I knew who this guy was he would probably have some very nice photos of the event. By this guy I mean the one sitting by the dog.




This is Kitty Lambert, President of Outspoken for Marriage. Sorry it is such a bad picture of her. I should have taken more of her because she was really great and would be a good politician. She is working VERY hard to get full marriage equality in the state of NY.








Bruce Kogan spoke on behalf of Stonewall Democrats.



Maria Whyte (Erie County Legislator) was awesome! She is quite a ham for the cam as well.



Sam Hoyt. Again, I want to say thanks for the politicians to come and take a public stance for marriage equality





There were some other people who spoke and again, I wish I took notes because I would like to include their pictures but I do not remember their names or who they represent. There was a Reverend or something but his message made me feel awkward and excluded when he had everyone repeat "God is love". I did like him but I feel weird when my beliefs as well as others are excluded. You can have religious figures speak a little more inclusively when at events like these without too much effort.

UPDATE

Sam Hoyt saw my journal and emailed Paul to remind me that the other politician in attendance was the Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz. Thanks for the info Sam. If anyone has the names of the other people who spoke at the rally I will include them too. Just click on the envelope below my avatar to send me an email.

Today is President's day but I forgot and it was really eerie on the way to work. Nobody was out except, of course, (e:heidi) on her way to school. I'm surprised so many people actually have the day off. I do get comp time for working today which is much better than having the day off. I save up all my comp time for summer because I hate being inside when it is nice.

Valentine's Day was nice. I did end up going to the marriage equality rally in front of city hall. I'll post pics later. Mike came over and we had the house to ourselves. I made dinner which was some yummy steaks. I was going to make chicken marsala but they were out of marsala at Gates Circle Liquour.

I'm working a lot. They are offering us unlimited hours at work so I am going to try and keep it up. I really am not sure if we will have jobs after September. We shall see... So Suze says to just save what we can. Check out saveyourself.com. You can get $100.00 after making 12 consecutive $100 deposits in a year.

I think I might go to this. (e:mike) and I just saw Milk and now I am all rallied up.

"Cupid's Arrows Aren't Always Straight!!!"
Please rally with us at our
3rd Call For Marriage Equality
February 14th, 2009 - 1pm (sharp!)
in Niagara Square in front of City Hall (Delaware & Niagara)
as we ask, once again for the right to marry!
LGBT FAMILIES deserve equal protections as Americans!
Dress warm and bring friends! Free Hot chocolate to warm you up!
Then join us for the After-Party!
2pm to 5pm
Pilgrim St Luke's Church
(Richmond and Utica)
Love IS out there!
Enjoy a glass of sparkly and some chocolate hugs & kisses! Come out and play!!!
Single? Take a chance at Queer Speed Dating!
Dance a little (or a lot!) Chinese Auction & 50/50 raffle!
Hot Pizza & Wings available for purchase from Main Menu Café!
$5.00 admission (cheap date!)
All proceeds go OUTspoken For Equality
to continue the fight for LGBT Rights!

Need More Information? Call Kitty! 716-578-3782

We used to just be FABULOUS! ...
But they are messing with our civil rights & our families~
NOW WE'RE FURIOUS !!!

OUTspoken For Equality!





Kitty Lambert
President, OUTspoken For Equality
Fighting for Marriage, GENDA, and the Dignity For All Students Act
22 Bolton Place
Buffalo, NY 14210-2131
(716) 578-3782

www.OUTspokenforequality.org

Working for Marriage Equality, Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Protection
and Dignity For ALL Students through Safe Schools and Positive Educations!

Interestingly, in Milk you find out that The Advocate was unwilling to endorse Harvey Milk, an openly gay man running for public office. They thought it would invoke more hatred towards gays. I just read this article from The Advocate about this faith based initiative of Obama's. I'm not too happy with mixing public funding with religious organizations that can discriminate against the GLBT community.

(e:mike) and I saw this parked on Anderson. We saw it the night before and it was much funnier when it just said WTF? When I went back to photograph it with my real camera instead of my phone someone added "Wash me!". The add on isn't quite as funny but WTF? Was exactly what Mike and I said when we saw it. This thing is like twice the size of a hummer at least. When you look at it from the front it actually looks like a 16 wheeler. I should have shot it from the front too cause this photo almost makes it look small.

Yesterday I did Suze Orman's online expense sheet. It is really kinda awesome for me to have done this because it is my desire to develop some personal financial security. I really want to improve my FICO score and to have an emergency fund which would also double on the down payment of a house some time down the road. Doing the expense sheet has made me see my own fianances more clearly so that I know better of what I need to do to achieve my goal.

The expense sheet really makes you think about where all your money is going to. She asks you to *guestimate* (that was for (e:zobar)) what you are spending per month on everything form toiletries to movies, tobacco and alcohol. You enter in your rent, your loans, utilites as well as your monthly income. Under the fast food category I realized I can save the most without sacrificing too much. I am spending $100/month on eating food in the cafeteria! My big challenge now is trying my hardest to limit this to let's say $25 month. Even things that seem relatively benign such as going to the movies can be a huge expense over a year period. The one great thing I realzed when doing all this was that I didn't have to put anything into the tobacco category. If I was still smoking a pack a day I would have to enter in $168/ month at a rate of $6.00 pack. There is no way I could afford to go back to smoking! That is more than $2000/yr.

I'm really annoyed that I have an expense in the cable category. I really did not want cable it was something my roommate considered to be essential and now I am stuck paying for half of it at least until July. After that I will refuse to pay for it anymore because I really don't need TV and don't even care if I don't even have one of those things they ran out of coupons for when they make the digital switch so that you can watch TV with an antennae.

So, I definitely recommend doing one of those expense balancing sheets for yourself sometime if you are interested in improving your financial situation. It is a great way of facing reality.