When I heard that Rick Warren was chosen by President-Elect Obama to give the inaugural prayer, I was disappointed. Not only had gay couples just suffered an round-house right to the jaw in California. It seemed as though Mr. Obama was taking his “post-partisan” divide crusade into tone-deaf territory.

I thought it ill timed at best, and that the PE was giving a spotlight to a man who is on the “wrong side of history.” I was relieved to learn later on, that Pastor Rick was only one of several ministers who would pray for our new president, and that his place in the que was not singular, or even first.

In the end, I missed Rick. I was empaneled as a juror, but we were given an unprecedented 2 hour 15 minute break to watch the historic inauguration, alas, Rick’s moment had come and gone when I arrived in the State Supreme Court Building at 60 Center Street with it’s massive rotunda, and watched with about 150 other citizens the (first-take) swearing in.
My neighbor Ted, an artist and thoughtful man who raised three girls, and is now retired with his wife Lois, forwarded the text below earlier today, and I have in turn sent it on to 10 friends.

But before I pass you on to the author of this petition for redress, I have to mention one last graphically perfect image of that wondrous day: the departing non-ambulatory Vice President in a wheelchair! Tell me you weren’t thinking, “There goes Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life!”

And now the reason for this post, with some heartrending images, song and Lyrics:

Have you heard that Ken Starr — and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund — filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days.

The Courage Campaign has created a video called “Fidelity,” with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law.

Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, you can help spread the word by sharing it with your friends ASAP — before the Valentine’s Day deadline:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce

The more people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr’s shameful legal proceeding.

After you watch the video, please join me and over 150,000 people who have signed a letter to the state Supreme Court, asking them to invalidate Prop 8 and reject Starr’s case.

Thanks.