I participated in the Denver 7SN event last year, driving
my husband and 3 children over the Divide ... I decided we could host our own in Grand Junction this year. It was
our 'starter year' for sure, but I am proud of the ~30 people we had creating luminaries with us, walking with us,
and standing with us at the old county courthouse.
We met at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley
on Wednesday, September 17th at 5 to chat, make posters and luminaries, and then left about 6:15 to walk the mile down Main
Street to the old county courthouse. When we reached the courthouse, we formed a circle and shared why we chose to participate.
I started by sharing my 82 year old grandmother's words, as she could
not join us this time. She had spent the weekend standing in line with me to get tickets to see Senator Obama speak
and then stood in line again to get into the grounds to sit 15 feet from him! Incredible lady. My grandmother's
words were:
Ruth and Mary is a song written
by Shawn Mullins, a folk rock artist. It is about two remarkable women who love one another. One of these
women is my youngest daughter, Ruth. She and Mary have been together for 15 years and have two adopted children together.
Both of our families have been enriched by Ruth and Mary, Claire and Autumn. The idea that this family is somehow a
threat to marriage or children is not only illogical, but grossly unkind and un-American.
Denying same-sex couples the opportunity to legally share their
lives, provide two-parent homes for children and otherwise contribute to a loving society rather than one filled with hate
and fear. As a very old woman, I am sounding the alarm. Beware of the many ballot initiatives aimed at limiting
rights of American citizens especially those aimed at members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
Be vigilant, be heroic,
be confident for others who have been oppressed have risen like a Phoenix and you will, too.
My wish? -- That I live to see TRUE equality. 
People shared their reasons for standing with us and
I was impressed with the variety in representation of our community. We had an older heterosexual couple, a mother
and daughter, a gay couple, two young girls and their straight parents, a transgender woman, another female straight ally,
a bisexual woman, and several other straight allies. My husband and three children joined me as we led the group back
to the church.
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