Texas' Marriage Ban struck down. Again.

Today, Texas' marriage equality ban was struck down today by a district judge in San Antonio.

...So divorce proceedings involving a lesbian couple can, well, proceed.

That's all I have to say about that.

#Dontmesswithtexas

#Team Ryan

Two Snaps for Ryan Lewis!

Ryan is not only the music producer and half of duo Macklemore, he just scored at the top of my list for which of the pair is the sexiest!

(I may have been Macklemore for Halloween, but Ryan Lewis takes the cake. Maybe because he reminds me of someone I'm currently dating.)

Ryan came out yesterday in an interview with his mum announcing that she has survived being HIV+ for 30 years. She was diagnosed in 1984 after receiving positive blood during a transfusion while giving birth to Lewis' older sister. In conjunction with the announcement, Lewis also introduced the 30/30 Project -a non profit he started with his mother and Macklemore to provide affordible healthcare worldwide.

I heart me some Ryan Lewis and Macklemore. Their music is most certainly over played, but I feel that they have always tried to use their celebrity status for good causes.

You can donate to the 30/30 project here:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/30-30-project-macklemore-ryan-lewis#home

Put a needle in it!

I've struggled with headaches all of my adult life. These last two weeks I've had a consistent, mild migraine that has kept me from writing, overly working, and has diminished my overall quality of life. So I decided to put a needle in it. 

No not like heroin, you crazy kids! 

Acupuncture!!! :

Thanks to my final, reluctant joining of Obamacare, I'm now paying a huge premium that I intend on milking like a prostate in order to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. When I found out that I qualify for free acupuncture treatment a block from my house, my healthcare frown suddenly turned upside down.

I was inspired by my sister Jami -who suffers from migraines and poor arch support in her feet- getting acupuncture to deal with her ailments. I have long been a firm believer in Eastern medicine, and because I suffer mildly from both myself, I thought I would give acupuncture a try. 

After my 4th session, I feel like I'm hooked. I'm sleeping better, my headaches have been alleviated, and I'm dealing with aches and pains in ways I never knew possible. 

I really enjoy both the acupuncture and the cupping that comes with it. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I most certainly do not mean "cupping" in reference to grabbing your junk. Cupping is the suctioning of heated jars and cups to your flesh in order to draw out toxins. Like below:

Hopefully I will be able to continue on my path to a better, healthier me. It seems like acupuncture has become a new bit of therapy for me. I'll write more later as my journey of having needles shoved into my flesh and enflamed glass containers suctioned onto me continues!

It's My Birthday and I'll laugh if I want to!

One score and 12 years ago, my poor mother brought forth on this day a child unto this world: me. 

When she shat me out at 1:10 in the morning on April 16, 1982, I bet she hadn't the slightest indication of the man that I would eventually become today, but I hope I have made her proud.

32 is an interesting year to be turning. I haven't beaten Jesus yet, but I'm still completely an adult: liable for my own life and decisions, responsible for my actions, and held accountable for my words. 

Being a 32 year old means there is no turning back- no return escape to our adolescence. 32 means stepping out into the blue and really owning who you are as a person and what you are capable of. I've realized over the last few years that I am fed up with trying to be the person that people want me to be and I'm ready to accept my own individuality and the destiny that is mine.

I've got some exciting things coming up as I transcend into a new year:

*My book will be published this year, whether or not I find a publisher to do it for me or whether I publish it myself. I've reshaped and renamed my first book/collection Dancing in My Underwear. It will feature two brand new stories that make it a much more complete literary journey.

*I'm excited to announce that I'm almost halfway through completing my second collection of short stories Volume Two. I hope to have it finished within the coming months so I can also have it published and can begin my third book.

*Perhaps my most exciting announcement is the purchase and launch of my own website domain www.koelen.net. Though still under construction, I will be slowly transferring my pics, art, music, videos, blog, and book info all to one website: koelen.net! This was my birthday present to myself and I can't wait until the site is fully operational.

*I plan to launch Xavier's Bill in the following months. Xavier's Bill is my proposed Proposition to amend California's constitution to allow for ferret legalization. I do this for my brave ferret son Xavier whose current battle with cancer inspired me to finally push for ferret legalization in my state. If one person can change the law in their state, it might also inspire others to become more active in their government.

*Thanks to my friend Kevin giving me the opportunity to sing a solo last week, my interest in music and singing has been rekindled and will once again become a key feature of my life. 

*Friends and family will be a strong focus of mine this year.

*This will continue to be my year of health and I will continue to actively pursue living the healthiest I can be.

Every birthday for the last 5 years, I have thrown a party with my friends for my friends. This year, I'm keeping it low key. While I love throwing parties, I've also realized I love just being me. So this year, I'm taking time out to just be myself and do the things that make me happy.

No more stress. Just life. To 32! #intotheblue

#Ohio

Ohio entered into a new phase of equality today as a federal judge added the state to a lengthening list of states that do not have full marriage equality but must recognize marriages from out of state.

In a 45 page ruling issued today, Federal Judge Timothy Black called Ohio’s refusal to recognize gay marriage a violation of constitutional rights and “unenforceable in all circumstances.”

“The record before this court ... is staggeringly devoid of any legitimate justification for the state’s ongoing arbitrary discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” Black wrote. Black was appointed as Federal Judge by President Barack Obama.

Both the Governor and Attorney General of Ohip will challenge Black's ruling.

Ohio joins neighbors Kentucky and Tennessee- two states where federal judges have also ruled that their state bans on recognizing marriages in other states are unconstitutional. Federal judges in the last 4 months have also struck down state bans in Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Michigan.

Though Black did not enforce a stay with his decision, he did order that the 4 couples who are plaintiffs in the case have their out of state marriages recognized immediately.

Oral arguments in the Utah case began last Thursday, guranteeing it a front runner position to head to the US Supreme Court.

Happy Anniversary Iowa

A little more than 5 years ago, on April 3, 2009, the Supreme Court of Iowa unanimously voted to make marriage equality legal in the Hawkeye state.

5 years later, the world hasn't imploded. And the state of Iowa is doing just fine.

Kansas? Missouri? Neighbors on all sides of you have marriage equality now...

This map from 2009 shows just how far we have come since Iowa, but how much further we still have to go!