When MLK said, “Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This is what he meant.
Twenty-seven years ago, Colorado passed one of the ugliest anti-LGBT laws in the country (it was quickly overturned) and today, we swore in Jared Polis. Father, partner, Jewish and gay. Congratulations to all of us in Colorado, we are all better for it.
Colorado entered a new era of Democratic political dominance Tuesday as Jared Polis was sworn in as the state’s 43rd governor, promising to make the state’s booming economy fairer and health care more affordable.
“Our mission now is to make Colorado a place for all families to have a chance to thrive today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” he said after taking the oath of office. “I believe there is nothing that Colorado needs to do that Colorodans can’t get done. There is nothing wrong with Colorado that what is right with Colorado can’t fix.”
Polis’ longtime partner, Marlon Reis, and their two children stood with him for the ceremony on the west steps of the Colorado Capitol. He took the oath at precisely noon, his left hand on a siddur, a Jewish prayer book.
In his first speech as governor, Polis celebrated the diversity of the state and recognized the historic moment: Polis is the first openly gay governor ever elected to lead a state. He is also Colorado’s first Jewish governor.
“I am very conscious of the fact that there were many brave people over the years who made it possible for someone like me to be standing here giving a speech like this,” he said. “I am grateful and forever indebted to those who came before me — who struggled for equal rights, who stepped up for public service in all its forms, who made difficult sacrifices and worked faithfully toward a brighter future for our state, our nation and our world.”
Invocations were done by the Spiritual Leader of Ute Mountain Tribe, the Head Priest of a Sikh Temple, and a Baptist minister. Tonight, Cyndi Lauper will lead the musical guests at the Blue Sneaker Ball (in honor of Gov. Polis’ comfy blue sneakers).
Carry that with you as you face the orange circus peanut tonight…
Baud
Colorado has been a pleasant surprise over the last few years.
TK
Wow. It is a striking image for those of us old enough to remember life before the gay rights era really got going. Good for him. Eventually it won’t even be noteworthy who an elected official sleeps with.
lamh36
Was just reading bout this…love it.
I may either watch some Netflix or maybe read a book I’ve been meaning to read instead of watching Chump.
Right now, I’m reading this twitter thread on the first day of voter registration going on today in Florida after the election that now allows folks convicted of a felony to vote.
Def check it out…
ETA: Here’s the reporter’s full article:
After decades of waiting, felony convictions won’t stop Jacksonville’s newest voters http://jacksonville.com/news/20190108/after-decades-of-waiting-felony-convictions-wont-stop-jacksonvilles-newest-voters
lamh36
@lamh36: Notice that so far the majority of those profiled are Black folk.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
I like that he took the time to say this in his speech. It says volumes about Polis, all of it good. It shows that he’s very self-aware that this was a long process that didn’t suddenly just happen out of nowhere.
TaMara (HFG)
After an ugly campaign, this was actually a nice congrats to Gov. Polis
cain
@Baud:
It’s all those californians and liberal midwesterners showing up and loving that 2% unemployment rate :D Unfortunately, the traffic is a fucking mess.
Mary G
@lamh36: I was amazed at how petty many of the offenses they lost their voting rights for. Driving on a suspended license if you lost it for a DUI or drug offense, serious, but not “you can never vote again” serious.
I read a couple of hot Bernie Bro. takes on Twitter saying that it wouldn’t make a difference, but I am sure it will.
Forgot to add, congratulations to Colorado and Gov. Polis. He sounds great.
SiubhanDuinne
NPR (yeah, I know, don’t @ me) had a fairly lengthy and positive feature on him earlier today.
SiubhanDuinne
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Thank you for your comment, and for highlighting that part of his speech.
hedgehog mobile
Will raise a toast to Gov. Polis tonight. Proud to be a Coloradan.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@SiubhanDuinne:
Uh…thanks? That isn’t snark is it? If it isn’t disregard this.
SiubhanDuinne
@TaMara (HFG):
Very gracious. Good for Stapleton.
SiubhanDuinne
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
Not snark. Serious compliment.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@SiubhanDuinne:
Oh, cool.
It really shows his humility. He should be a great political leader based on that alone and Colorado is lucky to have him
TaMara (HFG)
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: I got to meet him at a house party and I was so taken. He’s genuine.
Mary G
@lamh36: This article says that a lot of people had their licenses suspended due to not paying tickets for pedestrian violations, so basically lost their right to vote over jaywalking. Surprise, surprise, surprise, black people were way over-represented in who got pedestrian tickets.
These Confederates are shameful. You lost the stupid war, stop trying to get back at us Yankees.
waratah
I love Colorado turning really blue. I always wondered why the state was red when it seemed Colorado was attracting so many young people.
jc balinger
TaMara,
With respect to the “arc of the moral universe” quote, here’s some info on its history. MLK condensed and popularized this phrase but he’s not the original author.
h/t https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129609461
h/t https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/at-king-ceremony-a-chance-to-bend-toward-justice/2011/08/25/gIQAikUkeJ_story.html?utm_term=.08e2de84e14e
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@TaMara (HFG):
We need more genuine people in politics. No more Trumps, Susan Collins, or Flakes.
jk
TaMara,
With respect to the “arc of the moral universe” MLK condensed and popularized this phrase but he’s not the original author of it:
h/t https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129609461
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/at-king-ceremony-a-chance-to-bend-toward-justice/2011/08/25/gIQAikUkeJ_story.html?utm_term=.08e2de84e14e
MomSense
@jk:
Keep Top Eye Open!
Parker is one of my all time heroes.
SiubhanDuinne
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??:
I agree. I look forward to following him.
My sister lives in Denver (well, Aurora) and while she conscientiously votes, and mostly, I think, votes Dem (she detests Trump, I do know that much), she is not terribly engaged the way we are, and her entire political philosophy is a straight-down-the-middle-can’t-we-all-just-get-along default. I’ll have to ask her what she thinks about Governor Polis.
SiubhanDuinne
@TaMara (HFG):
That is really good to hear!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Also, mostly good news, the Van Hollen strategy worked.
Suzanne around? I’m not surprised she was proved right about Sinema, I’m a little surprised it happened so fast.
also, fuck that corrupt neocon fuck Menendez
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I wonder what Doug Jones’ politics are on this.
A Ghost To Most
I’m proud to say that I signed his nominating petition. I also reamed out a Stapleton petition person at the same time (in front of the Taj Mahal in jeffco).
schrodingers_cat
What is a circus peanut?
TaMara (HFG)
@jk: I remember we had this discussion before. Thanks for that reminder! I should have remembered.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: much the same as Manchin’s I imagine– a sizable number of constituents who believe we can’t have the rapture till the great war comes to Jerusalem, or whatever– and in a much weaker position than the just reelected Slow Joe.
Me, I’m probably gonna be left below
TaMara (HFG)
@schrodingers_cat: Worse than peeps! (no offense to anyone who likes peeps)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_peanut
The Moar You Know
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: What, that Schumer cut a red-state Dem loose to vote yes on a bill that didn’t have the votes to advance regardless? That’s not selling out, that’s smart politicking. Same with Jones, same with Manchin. We’re going to need more folks like that, we’re out of places that can host a safe Senate seat for Dems. Any pickups we make in the Senate are going to be people who have to be annoying as shit to keep the majority. I don’t like it either but that’s life.
Gotta say Menendez has zero excuse. He’s the definition of “safe seat”.
A Ghost To Most
@TaMara (HFG): Fuck Stapleton. Was he holding a bag of meth?
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Right there with you, buddy. The rapture always seemed like a win-win for both sides.
MJS
@schrodingers_cat: The single most disgusting “candy” ever invented.
Dan B
In November of this year it will be 50 years since I sat down at a lunch table with 7 students at the University if Chicago. “Congratulations! You’re member number eight of Chicago Gay Liberation Front.” (Later shortened by dropping Front.) In a few years I’d be booted out of an honors program in architecture at the University of Cincinnati. We’d get dancing back in Chicago Gay bars, after facing a mafia contract and 200 paddy wagons. We’d disrupt the APA convention in ’71 that produced a two year study that removed homosexuality from the DSM.
It was impossible to imagine that in 50 years LGBTQ couples would marry and raise kids, let alone be elected governor. In 1969 I knew of only two gay couples (lovers was the term) in Chicago. It was nearly impossible to keep a corporate or union job after age twenty five and there were enormous stresses like having to retain separate residences and never be caught leaving an apartment together.
We were inspired by our work in the Civil Rights Movement. We never felt that we suffered as much because “we” could hide. But there were huge costs, not visible to the naked eye, to our hiding.
So my eyes well up every time I think about Jared Polis, especially today. The pain of my youth is still present and letting another piece of the pain go is a reminder of the people I loved who didn’t make it to this day.
MoxieM
@jk: TP also was the original author of “a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people”. Good Uncle Abraham used an adaptation of that in the Gettysburg address, of course.
The point is, Theodore Parker was one of the most influential thinkers of his time, and yet nearly forgotten now. It’s a shame; we could use more awareness of his perspective. He died young, which was a great pity. I was privileged to have his bible on my desk for a while, while I was transcribing some of his letters–he had nearly indecipherable handwriting. But he annotated his bible in Hebrew. He also met Ada Lovelace, and saw Charles Babbage’s difference engine. That really blew my mind.
edited for shitty writing!
schrodingers_cat
@TaMara (HFG): @MJS: I should thank my lucky stars that I have avoided eating it or even seeing IRL so far.
A Ghost To Most
rawstory
tobie
My TV remote fell on the floor and I accidentally got a few minutes of FOX news tonight. Man, they’re terrified of Beto. Karl Rove was on saying that, although Beto’s charismatic, he’s never been questioned in his positions and when that happens his bloom will fade. I thought, “Yeah right, Turd Blossom, the only blossom you know according to your name is a fetid fart cloud.” Eventually got hold of the remote and turned the TV off to get rid of Rove’s stink.
Fair Economist
@MoxieM:
That *is* pretty boggling.
A Ghost To Most
@schrodingers_cat: Think orange Styrofoam, allegedly edible.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@A Ghost To Most:
LOL. The very definition of “own goal”. Can’t you just imagine Trump flipping out about the “Crooked Dems” on the DC Water Board after he finds out? That “doo” of his will get mighty greasy methinks.
planetjanet
And more good news from Northern Virginia. Jennifer Boysko won her special election here for the state Senate. She takes the seat vacated by Jennifer Wexton when she won her congressional race. I am so happy for Jennifer. I remember working with her passionately on the Howard Dean campaign, when she was state co-chair with Don Beyer. She is a fearless campaigner and brings people along with her, the best we should all aspire to be. I am immensely happy. One of the things I really love is how she has worked her way up through supporting other campaigns to running for Delegate two cycles ago. She did not just wake up one morning and think she should be in Congress. I respect that.
Steeplejack
Alternate programming if you don’t want to watch Trump:
lamh36
Alright, alright…we’re back with #FindingYourRoots
Andy Samberg and George R R Martin
A Ghost To Most
@Steeplejack:
The Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals are on. I’m good.
Steve in the ATL
Well, no one was available for the Demopolis, Alabama meet up, and the Eutaw, Alabama meeting was a total bust, so screw your people! I’m in Seaside, Florida, eating crab cakes at Bud & Alley’s.
Hope the turnout is better in Cincinnati next week!
frosty fred
@lamh36: Good. I was seriously underwhelmed with Who Do You Think You Are this season.
lamh36
@lamh36: So tonight’s connections is Samberg with no knowledge on his maternal side…and George RR Martin’s has no knowledge on his paternal side…hmmm #findingyourroots
Steeplejack
@Dan B:
Thank you for your testament. My gay brother, age 59, is married and has two adopted children. He says that 20 years ago he could not have imagined this, and he says it wouldn’t have happened without Obama’s presidency. (Not the only reason, of course.)
lamh36
@frosty fred: Oh…I’ve never watched much of that show, but FYR is def on a way nother level
MoxieM
@Fair Economist: I kind of started yelling and running around the house, yeah. All The Things in one place, wow. This was before Dean Grodzins published his exceptional biography of Parker, American Heretic.
TaMara (HFG)
@Dan B: When Gov. Polis says there were many brave people who came before him who made this possible…he was talking about YOU. I hope you know that. Heroic stuff there.
A Ghost To Most
@Steeplejack:
It’s turning into a real liberal state. The wingers are miserable.
JPL
@planetjanet: That is happy news.
dmsilev
@A Ghost To Most:
I see potential here….
Steeplejack
@Steve in the ATL:
Make sure the door to your room is locked! Seaside is that creepy Stepford Wives meets Truman Show fake town.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Do…. do they have a significant population of Moarman Baptists there?
Dan B
@Steeplejack: You’re welcome. And thank you for reading my screed/testament. The commenters at Balloon Juice feel like another family. (and brilliant, wise and wise guys, sometimes out of line but generally self correcting) I also appreciate that I don’t get shot down for “identity politics”. I’ve been involved with black rights, anti-war, military rights, womens rights, Jews, Muslims, climate change, and even local Democrats. There are common threads. One us to be seen as people who care about their communities and another is to know more about the issues that are important. The best way is to share stories. These move us in good directions.
Barbara
@Steve in the ATL: I have been to Eutaw, Alabama. They used to have a dogtrack until it went bankrupt. You might find it unsurprising that Alabama used to fund its courts with a cut of jury verdicts, which were used by the court in Eutaw to build a bodacious courthouse. I attended a very entertaining hearing in that courthouse.
Yarrow
Question for the hive mind: If a meeting of a volunteer organization with 7-10 people is planned for a weeknight from 6:30-8:30 p.m., should dinner be part of it? Just snacks? Or no food? I have argued for dinner because I think without it people will get cranky and the meeting won’t be as productive. I was told no food or maybe just snacks.
This group is known for arriving late, starting late and going longer than planned so I doubt we’ll be done by 8:30. The meeting is in someone’s home, so no issues with not being allowed to have food. We usually have potluck dinner dishes. New people are being invited to this meeting and I think not having food is a bad introduction to the group.
I know from experience if you want to have a good meeting, have food. I am struggling to understand why people don’t think it’s a good idea. Am I way off base with this?
sukabi
@A Ghost To Most: Crumbling infrastructure takes a while to fix. Maybe they can double down on the reasons for cutting the water….
Mr Stagger Lee
@A Ghost To Most: I love the fact that Colorado Springs must be a mess with all those conservative heads exploding.
Matt McIrvin
@lamh36: Wow, it’s possible to get a felony conviction for driving on a suspended license in Florida?
…looked it up, yeah, it’s a felony on your third offense. Gotta believe that that was at least in part for specific purposes of vote suppression. I think here (MA) it’s always a misdemeanor, though the penalties escalate.
It’s a real trap–yank someone’s license for some picayune reason, then when they can’t work or socially function without a ride, the temptation to violate the law over and over must be immense.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Steeplejack: Do I have to have an Instagram account to see that?
I have no intention of watching tonight’s incoherent mumbling, but would like to see the Democratic response(s). Anybody have a link?
I heard that the incoherent mumbling is supposed to be 8 minutes long, is that correct? I’d hate to accidentally see his face.
Barbara
@Dan B: Thank you for that.
JMG
@Yarrow: No, I agree with you, but snacks would be best. Not Fritos, like hors d’oeuvre type snacks. Some folks will have eaten before, others plan to do so after, but some will be damn glad for the food.
Steeplejack
@Ceci n est pas mon nym:
I have no experience with Instagram. I will be reading
@ddale8’s live tweeting of Stormy’s laundry folding.
joel hanes
@A Ghost To Most:
The wingers are miserable.
Let’s hope they abandon the Colorado Springs area and all move to Alabama or Mississippi or Oklahoma, where they’ll feel more at home.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Yarrow: Geeze, yes! I can’t imagine hosting a group, no matter what it is, without providing at least snacks and refreshments. You don’t need to have an open bar and a 10-course dinner, but for FSM’s sake how about veggies and dip and iced tea?
Gin & Tonic
@Dan B: People share what’s important to them and are seldom criticized if someone else finds that subject unimportant. I comment sometimes on Eastern Europe and the FSU and figure if that doesn’t interest the majority, they can scroll down. Various perspectives are helpful.
ETA: As someone who has not lived through what you have, I am interested in reading about it.
Gin & Tonic
@Yarrow: I see I’m not alone – yes, food, absolutely. It will make people happier and more productive.
Dan B
@TaMara (HFG): I was just a kid who left Cincinnati in such a state of shock that I have no idea how I got to Chicago, and wandered, like Forest Gump, into a number of good groups over many years.
A few times it felt like heroism. The APA action was the most scary because we thought we were going to Cook County Jail. Had a few other experiences with military police at Ft. Lewis that were scary. Now only a few people remain from the early days of activism gone to AIDS. Even the military activism was led by gay guys. There’s no chance of a reunion with mire than three of us to reminisce. Funny how it feels lonely to not have people to share stories. So it’s quite emotional to hear from Jared Polis and you. Thanks so much.
Yarrow
@JMG: @Ceci n est pas mon nym: Almost everyone is coming straight from work, (which is why they’re often late) so most will not have had the chance to eat before. I think it’s going to end up being chips and salsa and not much else. That’s okay but by the time we finish at 10:00 p.m. (usual time to end) then I think people will be starving. This is how it used to be before I put my foot down and said we needed to have actual food because it would be me bringing guac and chips and everyone scarfing it and we’d be starving by 10:00 p.m.
@Gin & Tonic: That’s my argument, but I feel like I’m screaming into the void. They seem to think this particular meeting will only last a “short while.” LOL. They’re never short, especially once they start drinking. Oh, yeah. They’ll be drinking and have no food. That’s a great combination.
Mnemosyne
@Steeplejack:
She’s not my type, but I think that’s hilarious. ?
Yarrow
@Dan B: I very much enjoy reading your comments. It’s something I know about only tangentially. You write so well about that era and with such emotion, I feel like I learn more about it than I would reading it from someone else. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences here.
Mnemosyne
@Yarrow:
I rely on Miss Manners — it’s rude to take up someone’s dinner hour and not offer them food.
The empty stomach drinking will only make it worse. ?
JPL
@Yarrow: Finger food and snacks. At least that is what we do in the south. Nothing to heavy.
Yutsano
@Yarrow: I think maybe cocktail party snacks, like meatballs or mini quiches and such. Most folks may have had dinner but might still want something to nosh on and it will at least tide those over who haven’t eaten until after the event when they can actually feed themselves. But I wouldn’t go a full on dinner unless it’s something easy like spaghetti or lasagna.
Yarrow
@Mnemosyne: I know. It’s bizarre that they think we don’t need food. They start drinking and get so loud it’s impossible to hear someone on the other end of the table or room to try to discuss topics. I can’t imagine how bad it’s going to be with no food and new people so the group is larger. Ugh.
JPL
I just changed the channel to create tv. I just can’t look at the creep.
lamh36
Wow…the last shot from tonight’s Finding Your Roots…was wow!
Great 1st episode of the season.
Mnemosyne
@Dan B:
If you have not yet participated in an oral history project, you absolutely should so your stories will be preserved. I found this list of ongoing projects — I bet the folks at the Chicago Leather Museum would LOVE to sit down with you.
http://lgbtqdigitalcollaboratory.org/oral-history-hub/
chris
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: Live MSNBC
JPL
@Yutsano: No matter the time, nuts and trails mix are always a hit. If you feel you need something else tortilla pinwheels are easy to make ahead of time.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
So what I’m actually doing instead of watching… it… is folding clothes into tiny rectangles and watching Stranger Things. Explanation: My wife has Marie Kondo’s book on “Tidying Up” and loves her. A couple of nights ago we went on Netflix looking for something interesting to watch and found Kondo’s Tidying Up reality show. We then watched three episodes over two nights and got all inspired.
I hate tidying up but figured that at least what the hell, my clothes are scattered in random places all over the house and it might be nice to see what I actually own and put it into logical locations. So I did Marie’s Step One: Take every article of clothing you own and pile it up in one spot. She also has her own unique approach to folding and storage, hence the tiny rectangles.
Edit to Add: Oh and on Things, my kid got me into that a year or so ago but I never went past the 4th episode and then forgot about it. So I decided while I’m folding to start catching up with that.
Barbara
@Yarrow: Why do you think pizza became so popular? I know I would be cranky without food.
Yarrow
@Barbara: I know. It’s just bizarre. I’m not hosting this meeting so I’m not in charge. It’s just totally outside what we usually do that I don’t get it. Looking at what we need to get through there is no way that we’ll be done by 8:30. We’ll be done at 10:00 p.m. and everyone will be cranky and hungry.
lamh36
Welp…Finding Your Roots is over…and apparently PBS is also covering Chump…so CLICK!
chris
Jesus, he’s really bad at this!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Yarrow:
nope, especially if the group usually has food
is someone hosting in their home, and they don’t want the mess and fuss? put me down with those who suggest finger food, minimize the need for utensils and napkins
Immanentize
@Yarrow:
Order pizza fer fucks sake! Food is critical!
?
Mary G
@Yarrow: People don’t want to spend the time and/or money to make/buy food and don’t think about how bad it gets if they’re only drinking. Also, I was in one group where the members started competing to see who could provide the fanciest/most food and eventually the people who didn’t want to participate in keeping up with the Joneses put their feet down and said no food. Perhaps you should brown bag something and eat it in front of them to make your point?
Ladyraxterinok
@A Ghost To Most: Didn’t the RW turn get pushed by Dobson putting Focus on the Family in CO Springs in the late 70s?
That organization has been an immensely strong group pushing RW religion with its books, radio programs, etc, etc.
Gravenstone
@schrodingers_cat: Evil. Pure unreconstructed evil. /Shudder
Seriously, think of a stiff, stale, obscenely orange marshmallow and you’ll be on the proper path.
Persistent Illusion
@joel hanes: Dude, as a D political consultant who has lived in COS for more than 25 years and run successful D campaigns, thanks for the diss.
Mnemosyne
@Ceci n est pas mon nym:
I am a terrible slob and borderline hoarder, but I have to say that Kondo’s t-shirt folding and sideways stacking is fucking GENIUS. I can actually find my t-shirts in the drawer now.
Ladyraxterinok
@joel hanes: New OK GOP governor has rabid homophobe as major figure in his administration. Not sure how many in OK know this. Unfortunately most are probably ok with it. Siiigh
Yarrow
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: It is in a home but the host is fine with having food in their kitchen, etc. so that’s not the problem.
@Mary G: That is a danger but this group hasn’t gone taht way before, so I don’t think it’s about competition. It’s always potluck and bringing something the supermarket cooked (rotisserie chicken, bakery dessert, whatever) is always fine. I’m kind of at a loss for what’s going on this time.
Ruckus
@TaMara (HFG):
This should be in the running for comment of the year.
Acknowledging the people that helped make that change is, as the new gov and you said, immensely important. I’m reminded of my friend who passed last year, I met her in the 70s when she and my sister were partners. I’m reminded of many of the people that I’ve met since, who have been out, proud and committed and who I’m glad to have met and know.
@Dan B:
You fought the good fight. You may not have fully won yet. But you just moved a hell of a lot closer. BTW I’m not gay and have had some entertaining days with people who thought that I therefore must be anti gay. Breaking down those barriers is often a two way proposition.
Nothing in human existence, especially change of this magnitude is ever accomplished by anyone alone or without a lot of personal sacrifices. Who said that change in human living is difficult and only happens in small steps, until it hits the tipping point? (That’s not the saying, just the gist of it)
rikyrah
@Dan B:
????
Thank you
Always remember how far we have come…
Kayla Rudbek
@A Ghost To Most: next step is cutting off the water to the Capitol Building