Sometimes, my country makes me happy

An openly gay football player is drafted into the NFL. He cries and kisses his boyfriend.  And it made the news.

There are lots of things my country has done that make me not so happy.  I'll even say that I've been ashamed.  But, the issue of gay rights has me feeling optimistic.

The first big sign, at least to me, was when Joe Biden appeared on Ellen when he was running for Vice President the first time.  He not only appeared on the talk show of an openly gay woman, he congratulated her on her recent marriage.

That was in 2008.  You wouldn't have seen an openly gay woman talk show host in 1988.  Really, you didn't see any openly gay women unless they were a guest on Donahue.  You wouldn't have seen the VP candidate congratulate a gay woman on her recent marriage in 1998. 

6 years ago, Ken Starr was in California explaining how it was Constitutionally sound to deny marriage to same sex couples.  Now, we have pictures of same sex couples finally able to tie the knot after being together for 30 to 40 years. 

Today,  George Takei is the most influential person in social media.  He shares the happenings today that will be history in not too very long. 

Today, we saw an openly gay man, who plays football, be drafted into the NFL.  It was predicted he wouldn't be.  Mostly, because he's gay.  But he was.  He cried, hugged the man he loves best in the world, kissed him and was obviously overwhelmed.  The people they were with, all stood and clapped.  Because that's a cool thing.  If that's your dream, to play pro football, then you deserve a standing O no matter who you're sexually attracted to.  

And, as I tell my kids, it's none of my business who anyone wants to marry or sleep with or live with or whatever.  As long as it is all consensual, everyone is of age and no one is being hurt, then it's not up to me. 

I give myself props on this parenting thing for the day Zoe was confused as to why anyone would want to stop people from getting married.  What did it matter if they wanted to marry another boy or girl?  People should be able to get married.  She sees clips like this and doesn't get what all the fuss is about.  It doesn't occur to her that there is anything wrong with that.

I told her that her orchestra teacher is gay.  She said "Oh?'  sort of shrugged.  It's a non issue to her.  At least that part I'm getting right. 

Amanda's beauty tip of the day:  Use baking soda and peroxide as a tooth paste a couple times a week to whiten your teeth.  It tastes like ass but it works.