As someone who knows several gay and lesbian couples whose relationships have flourished even longer than mine with my husband (rapidly approaching 17 years), I know that the existence and recognition of other loving, committed couples only provides my husband and me with additional healthy role models. Given that, I’ll be participating in this:
Derek and his wife, Tessie.
I’d like you to meet Derek Forgie. I’ve known Derek for almost twenty years- we were both involved in the arts community here in North Bay for many years before Derek moved down to Toronto in search of fame and fortune. Well, mostly fame.
Derek is the most motivated guy I know. When he wants to do something, he just does it. When he moved to Toronto he started HSSE, Heterosexuals for Same Sex Equality, a group whose mission statement is to advocate for LGBT issues from a heterosexual angle- and to get the message out that human rights are everyone’s rights.
HSSE has already organized a successful campaign called “Straight Not Narrow”- selling T-shirts and organizing community involvement including participation in the Pride Parade in Toronto. The T-shirt is awesome and sends a clear and catchy message while raising money for a great cause. I’m not here to sell you a T-shirt though, don’t worry.
The new HSSE project is centered around an ad campaign that shows real couples holding a sign that reads “Gay marriage doesn’t threaten our marriage”. Derek asked me if I could help by getting a picture of me and Misty holding a sign that carried the message- and I said I could do better than that.
I’m hoping that I can get as many of the married (or engaged) readers to get Derek a photo of them holding up this sign. I’m also trying to pull some strings at some of the other blogs I frequent. The sign could be hand written, or printed off using a computer- and it doesn’t have to be to same font as the one you see above. If you like, you could add the facebook address that is written on the sign as well. Each photo should be uploaded to facebook.com/TheHSSE but if you love humans but hate social networks, feel free to e-mail the picture to me and I will forward it to Derek. My e-mail is my first name and last name (waye) all one word , ampersat, consultant, period, com. The idea is to collect as many as possible before Valentines Day.
As part of the campaign, for the month of February, the wonderfully talented staff at “Who Do You Love? Photography” in Toronto are very generously offering FREE professional couples portraits like the one above. If you’d like to book your session (or if you have any questions) email: [email protected]
So to make this easy for all of you:
Make a sign that says “Gay marriage doesn’t threaten our marriage” feel free to add “facebook.com/TheHSSE”
Take a picture of you and your husband/wife (and kids?) holding the sign.
Go to facebook.com/TheHSSE and upload the photo to their wall. Alternately, you can e-mail the picture to me (my first and last name,ampersat,consultant, period, com) If you put “George sent me” and I get twenty photos……
I will raffle off the free “Straight Not Narrow” T-shirts to the people who participate-your name will be entered so long as your picture is posted by Noon on February 14th.
So get to it. Be a part of something meaningful.
My mother is getting married on Valentine’s Day. We’ll see whether she wants to do this too. And maybe more couples from the reception.
If you’re married, please consider adding your picture.
Stephanie Zvan is one of the hosts for the Minnesota Atheists' radio show and podcast, Atheists Talk. She serves on the board of Secular Woman. She speaks on science and skepticism in a number of venues, including science fiction and fantasy conventions.
Stephanie has been called a science blogger and a sex blogger, but if it means she has to choose just one thing to be or blog about, she's decided she's never going to grow up. In addition to science and sex and the science of sex, you'll find quite a bit of politics here, some economics, a regular short fiction feature, and the occasional bit of concentrated weird.
Oh, and arguments. She sometimes indulges in those as well. But I'm sure everything will be just fine. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.
Not married, nor anywhere close, but I love this campaign nonetheless. Sharing this post immediately on Facebook.
Yeah, never will be married, but I hope plenty of married folks join in.