The weekly newspaper in this dumpy little town did a very un-dumpy thing

[Oeditpus Rex]

The lead story this week will undoubtedly elicit derision for The Pinnacle in this Central California town of 36,000 fence-sitters and will likely cost the paper a few advertisers. But I've known the publisher for 10 years, and he's not only a good journalist, he's a good man.


After 25 years together, one local San Benito County couple has decided to tie the knot - but unlike other couples the option has just now opened up for them. Mike Dunn and Rodger Thornberry hope to become the first gay couple to legally marry in SBC.

http://pinnaclenews.com/news/contentview.asp?c=245362


And, of course, hugs to the happy couple for having the courage to come "all the way out," as it were.

Appreciation to [e-mail] to counter the hate letters they'll get.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Kudos to the happy couple, and a hearty thank you to the paper's editor

I just hope that the two men are prepared for the publicity: San Benito County is pretty rural and very conservative.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. It's a little over 60 percent Democratic by voter registration

In 2000 the county went for Gore with 54.3 percent (53.5 statewide) and for Kerry in 2004 with 52.7 percent (54.4 statewide). It passed the medical marijuana initiative in 1996 and a proposition in 2000 that called for treatment rather than incarceration for certain drug offenses.

However, in 2000 it voted with the rest of the state, 61-39, in passing Proposition 22, the measure that made same-sex marriage illegal for eight years.