Marriage Recognition

AT LAST!!  California is the second state to legalize gay marriage!  So now we are recognized in TWO states! Although, heaven (that I don't believe in) help us if we get stuck in some state in between MA and CA where they don't have to treat us with any kind of dignity if they don't want to.  I s'pose we could fly from one coast to the other and just hope to hell we don't crash in the Colorado Rockies (home of the exceedingly evil Focus on the Family, whose idea of unconditional love is to take out full-page ads in newspapers to demonize the LGBT community).  I am ecstatically glad to hear the California news, but this is SO far from being over or equitable. We carry our marriage certificate and other papers we have had drawn up for when we LEAVE the state (something I note that the HETEROS don't have to do), but some states have passed laws making it ILLEGAL to honor them BECAUSE we are a same-sex couple.  (cursing under my breath about fundamentalist mumblegrumble self-righteous rassinfrassin holier-than-thou sputterspit gotta-punish-the-gays sonsa mutterfume) Or the lack of respect one gets at the most inopportune moments.  Not so long ago I was staying with my elderly parents in a state that is neither Massachusetts or California.  An asthma attack came on that wouldn't break, so I went to the local ER.  When the woman asked for my next of kin, of COURSE I gave my husband's name.  She asked me what our relationship was.  I said "spouse, we are legally married in our home state." She made no attempt to hide the sour-lemon look on her face.  You would have thought I had just uttered an obscenity.  I was too out of breath to be able to comment on it at the time.  (muttering again, contemptuouswretchedwoman whothef***areyoutojudgeme)  And yes, while we ARE able to get health insurance for each now (which is a good thing, because the plan hubby's employer offers sucks out loud, and not in that happy fun way either), it costs me MORE than my heterosexual peers because of the f***ing hoops my employer has to jump through to comply with federal regulations that DO NOT recognize our marriage.  ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH Lordy, but I AM in a mood tonight! I think I'm going to go drain this at the gym now...