Good-Bye 2011

We are into the final hours of 2011, and I can't say that I'm going to be sorry to see it end.  It's been a rough year for us in Tallahassee, FL, with the beginning of the Governor Lord Voldemort administration.   The slash and burn that happened with several state government agencies has left many in this town tired, burnt out and bitter heading into 2012.

On the upside, many of us are still smiling over the victory for marriage in New York, and the official end of Don't Ask Don't Tell (not to mention the end of U.S. military presence in Iraq).  

And I am personally sensing a shift in our culture, as well as parts of the Episcopal Church, away from the "culture wars" that put LGBT people constantly in the crossfire.   TEC will be looking at adopting language for same-sex wedding blessings and the overwhelming opinion of many who I've talked to is that this will happen at General Convention this summer in Indianapolis.  Once it does, those jurisdictions where marriage for LGBT is legal will finally be allowed to offer a marriage blessing if the couple so chooses.   That's huge!  It won't mean a thing for those of us in Florida.  But it will add to the burden of those who keep wanting to put up barriers to the full participation of LGBT people in the life of the church.

So, there's much to look forward to in 2012.   It's a presidential election year and the Republicans have been putting on quite the reality TV show with their candidates.  Who knows which one of the wackadoodles will emerge as their nominee.  In the meantime, will Democrats stick with their man Obama, or will they stay home pouting that he wasn't the Messiah after all?   I have wanted more from Obama, too.  But as I noted back in 2008, it didn't matter who came into the White House; that person was going to be saddled with a mess thanks to Dumbya.

I hope that for all of you, 2012 holds much hope, grace, and prosperity.  Cheers!