I just heard Melissa Etheridge's song "Tuesday Morning." It's about Mark Bingham who was one of the heroes aboard Flight 93 that overpowered the terrorists and prevented them for driving the aircraft into our nation's capitol. Of course, the point behind the song is that Mr. Bingham was gay...a gay American hero whose actions helped saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives of American citizens through his own sacrifice.

It should not be lost on any of us that, in spite of the discrimination and hate directed at gay and lesbian people by the American right and fundamentalist Christians, Mr. Bingham acted in selfless valor to protect the lives of others. I am reminded that at a time when many Americans refuse to recognize the rights of individuals whose biology leads them to love those that share their own gender, we have one individual who gave his life so that others may live.

It's time that the people of this nation stop this anti-gay/lesbian crap. It's time to let freely consenting adults marry whom so ever they so choose and then live their lives free from discrimination.

Now, for the record...I say this as a straight guy who has been happily married for the past 28 years. Neither my marriage, nor my family is at all threatened by the prospect that two individuals of the same sex might want to share their lives together. I dearly hope that this new Congress has the courage act to erase the travesty that prevents two people who love each other from binding together in the eyes of God and this nation. Afterall, if South Africa can allow sam sex marriages, why shouldn't we?