I have covered up the American flag in my signature and replaced it with another.

[SoonerPride]

Until Prop 8 is stuck down or the people rise up and reverse the hate, I will no longer show overt pride in the flag of this nation. Sorry. I just can't do it.

I live in red state hell and have long given up hope that my partner of 22 years and I could get married.

Then the California courts gave us hope.

We even planned a trip next summer to get a marriage license, even knowing that it would be worthless in Oklahoma. But least we'd have someone, somewhere who officially "validated" our partnership.

Work and finances precluded us from rushing out this year. But we held out hope on the good citizens of California to do the right thing. How sad it was for us on election night.

There we were in our powder blue Obama Pride shirts jumping up and down, crying tears of joy that Barack Obama was our president only to then be shedding tears of sorrow when we heard the result on Prop Hate.

I am both proud of and disgusted by this country at the same time.

[apnu]

1. Progress takes time and there will be setbacks

The Civil Rights movement of the 1950's saw that, resistance was strong and the nation apathetic. But they kept at it and revived the movement in the 1960's, finally to be successful in many ways. But the struggle still continues today, even with Obama's election.

It takes time, but trust me, we'll get there.

[rateyes]

2. Time and resistance. Resistance. Resistance.

[apnu]

4. Right on. If Civil Rights gave up in the 50's we wouldn't have had the 60's

And still, there were hoses and burning crosses and murder. This struggle has been no different so far, and will continue. It hard, dangerous work. But it is also important.

[SoonerPride]

6. Would that I lived in California.

I would be marching with my brothers and sisters.

I'd also be married today, worrying that the fundie Gesatapo would march into my house to tear up my marriage certificate.

[rateyes]

7. It takes resistance from people all over the country, gay and straight alike. nt

[kevinds13]

3. Read the quote in my sig line.

Progress takes time. Younger generation's believe gay marriage is fine, so in 4-8 years, who knows where we'll be. That definitely won't make you, me, or anyone else on this board feel any better about Prop 8, but we WILL get there.

[SoonerPride]

5. Of that I have no doubt.

But yesterday another poster told me to find solace that in 100 years gay couples would be able to marry.

Well I don't have 100 years.

I've already waited 22.

When do we get to have society recognize our love as just as equal and valid as anyone else's?

Why does my partnership undermine marriage, but 48 hour joke marriages by Britney Spears or 5 time divorcee Elizabeth Taylor doesn't?

I know that one day we shall overcome. But that doesn't make riding in the back of the bus any more palatable today.