Monday morning happenings

I took a day off from blogging yesterday. We got up, had coffee, I surfed a bit, and Kent read a bit. Then, we went to the gym to work out. The rest of the day, I didn't want to worry about what else was going on in the world. It was nice for a change.

In late afternoon, we started looking at the dates that we will be out in Idaho. We are going to Idaho for the 50th wedding anniversary of Kent's parents. We hope to see a few friends and selected family members (for me, that's easy, just my brother), and I will meet much of Kent's family that I've never met I suppose. I just hope that it's not one of those weird and awkward situations where people come to see what a "gay couple" looks like. I also want to see the college that I went to. I understand that it has changed a great deal. We will also take a vacation up in the Idaho wilderness for about five days after that. I suppose it's a safe assumption that the Idaho wilderness isn't yet wired to the internet. I'll have to suffer through it I suppose. Hummm, maybe I can hook up via a satelite phone!

So what did happen while I was away? For one thing, Rev. Karen Dammann, the lesbian Methodist minister will be allowed to continue her ministry despite many mixed reactions over the decision.

Some time ago, I talked about State Rep. Arlon Lindner, who has stated that homosexuals were never exterminated during the Holocaust. His own party rejected him Saturday for a new term. Linder blamed Republicans for turning against him.

Gay Holocaust Denier Dumped By GOP - (St. Paul, Minnesota) A Minnesota Republican was outraged gays, religious leaders and Holocaust survivors by claiming gays were never exterminated or sent to concentration camps by the Nazis has failed to get his own party's endorsement to run for another term in the state legislature.

State Rep. Arlon Lindner, 68, was passed over by the GOP Saturday, in favor of a less controversial candidate.

Last year, Lindner, introduced legislation that would repeal the state human rights amendment that protects LGBT Minnesotans from discrimination in employment, housing, education and other areas. The bill would also would have removed sexual orientation as a protected class in hate crimes laws.

Not that it will make much difference, but opponents of same-sex marriage have filed a petition that would ask Massachusetts voters in 2008 to adopt a constitutional amendment banning both gay marriages and civil unions. Of course, by then, there will probably be thousands of gay marriages that have been performed.

But on a brighter note, same-sex weddings are continuing in New Paltz. Six Unitarian Universalist ministers married 25 same-sex couples last Saturday.

On the downside, two ministers from New Paltz, Reverends Kay Greenleaf and Dawn Sangrey, will be arraigned today on misdemeanor charges for marrying same-sex couples.

You know, according to Mapquest, New Paltz, is 2 hours, 23 minutes (136.84 miles) from my home. I may just have to drive over there next weekend to see what the town is like.

And finally, I was delighted to read that I can still buy Girl Scout cookies with a clear conscience. You see, the Girl Scouts do not discriminate against gay and lesbian citizens as the Boy Scouts of America does, even though they are feeling some pressure to discriminate. It's still safe to buy those cookies to show support. Of course, if they change their stance, I will cut them off without a cent! :)