Today i will be phone banking for Obama as i did this last weekend calling wisconsin voters. But what I want to say in this diary something profound about who i carry with me into the voting booth. i dont know if i have the words, but here goes.... i am voting for Thomas Chamberlain, my first love who died of HIVAids in 1993. Thomas would have been so amazed to have voted for a president who looked like him. Same smile. compassionate heart. a strong black man. my friends that knew Thomas knew that he was the kindest most beautiful man and knew i was so very lucky to be with him.What a hard time that was, living through the AIDs epidemic and coming into my own as a young gay man as my friends were dying all around me and then Thomas getting sick.... This election i also carry my love for David. We just celebrated 10 years together but cannot legally marry and get the same benefits as other couples.We live in california. Obama has been the best president regarding GLBT rights in my lifetime. i am proud of our President. i also carry with me the strong women in my life.. my sisters and mom and aunts and my grandma and my best friend Maw. i am voting for equal pay for equal work and a women's right to choose. i know this isnt much of diary but i know that we all vote for more than just ourselves. who do you carry with you into the voting booth?
1:31 PM PT: Update: Hundreds of volunteers here in culver city at the famous Culver Studios where i think they filmed Gone With the Wind.. exciting. enthusiastic Obama supporters calling and getting out the vote for Colorado.
3:33 PM PT: ok. Done for the day. tired and talked out. i encourage everyone to do what they can to GOTV :-)