Tuesday, December 02, 2003
The End of the World. Well, actually it isn't. Yesterday the City of Tucson began a Domestic Partner registry. And the world didn't end, despite what social conservatives might think. Today there was a small ceremony at Sunset Park, in front of City Hall, where a few years ago I uncovered the foundations of an 1860s building. I arrived shortly after 4:00, and there were already several dozen people there, many lined up to signed the registry. I chatted with Brian and Tom, who were beaming with happiness.
Tom and Brian, Domestic Partners.
I was happy too, but also felt a great deal of sadness. All around me were couples, excited that the $50 they were paying, while providing few real benefits, was still a symbolic gesture. The City of Tucson recognized each couple as a pair, a couple, partners.
And I was there by myself. It was rather obvious. I left after watching a few couple come out of City Hall with their certificates. This was not my day.
And some of the old bitterness arose. Five years wasted. Five years spent fooling myself. Five years. It's very depressing to dwell on, so perhaps I should think about better things. More frivolous things, like the pleasant smell of my house from the Holiday Tree or the warmth of Mama Cat sitting in my lap. And yet it all comes back to the fact that I wished I was signing my name to that registry today.
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Tom and Brian, Domestic Partners.
I was happy too, but also felt a great deal of sadness. All around me were couples, excited that the $50 they were paying, while providing few real benefits, was still a symbolic gesture. The City of Tucson recognized each couple as a pair, a couple, partners.
And I was there by myself. It was rather obvious. I left after watching a few couple come out of City Hall with their certificates. This was not my day.
And some of the old bitterness arose. Five years wasted. Five years spent fooling myself. Five years. It's very depressing to dwell on, so perhaps I should think about better things. More frivolous things, like the pleasant smell of my house from the Holiday Tree or the warmth of Mama Cat sitting in my lap. And yet it all comes back to the fact that I wished I was signing my name to that registry today.
