Family Pride’s Blog

As I look at my reflection, I notice my eyes are a little bloodshot; beady even.  The computer is so bright.  I think I slept for 3 hours, which is something.  Maybe even more than I slept at the Egg Roll last year.  I woke up at 3:27 am in need of the Pavilion Visitors Center restroom (too much coffee at midnight before sleeping).  I started the long trek to the restroom and got to about 50 feet away when I spotted an oversized golf cart approaching in the distance.  It was the park rangers handing out voucher badge things to everyone standing in line–to reserve our spot in the line we will get in at 6:30 am. (If someone can explain to me why this process of waiting in line, essentially, twice to get one set of tickets, I would maybe pay them. Or at least give them a cookie.)  Anyway, I had to run back to the FP campsite area to reserve my place in line for a coveted voucher, without going to the restroom, and had to wait for approximately 17 hours before receiving my voucher.  But the story ends well.  My voucher badge is secure around my neck (#0323) and we only have 2 hours left until we have the great opportunity of lining up again!  Oh, and did I mention that when I woke up it was snow-sleeting and 20 degrees in my tent?  Because it was.  Oh, the things I do for equality.

Kim

PS I just remembered, as I was falling asleep at 12:15 am or so, I overheard a mom at the next campsite loudly announce, “I’m just going to go over here and pass gas.  No, I’m serious!  I get gassy at night!”  Always good to know these things about complete strangers.

update: as of 3:50AM, we now have our vouchers. We’ll be able to trade these vouchers in at 7:30AM for tickets… Pictures to follow…

Well - it’s 3 am and I just woke to the sound of a dad jumping up saying I think they are coming with the badges. He was wrong. My hands are so cold that typimg from my blackberry is almost impossible. I wonder what it must be like on Mt. Everest. I also am stunned at how loud the city is even at the dead of night. And I’m also reminded of how privileged I am to be out here by choice on a night like this. Most of the temporary dc shelters are closed now- which means many homeless people are braving the elements tonight.

(Sara and Kent make sure the cake/pizza doesn’t go to waste)

So somehow I got stuck with the task of staying up to keep all of you updated on the excitement. The great part is that there are less than 6 hours to go! When I first arrived over 4 hours ago, the line of tents stretched about half the way around the Ellipse. I was amazed at how many people are here. As I walked around (to keep me awake and to warm myself up) I saw that the line of tents and chairs and blankets wraps all the way around the Ellipse. I am just amazed at the lengths parents go for their children. What a show of love and devotion. Well, time to grab another cup of coffee….

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! That’s right, this Family Pride staffer has survived another year in the fight for family equality. I was on vacation after a busy month—I spent 16 out of 31 days in March traveling the country advocating for our families. But I flew back from San Francisco early this morning so I’d make it back in time for the Egg Roll 2007! Now I’m here, bundled up with the rest of ‘em, enjoying some Caribou coffee and a slice of BIRTHDAY CAKE!

I had great conversations about our families on the many flights I took today. From Oakland to Denver I talked Sara, an older, straight mom. She wanted to discuss her LGBTQ friends and the many ways they’re creating their families. I updated her on the second parent adoption bill in her home state of Colorado.

From Denver to Chicago, I talked to Ben, a young teacher who has a gay father and wanted to know how better to represent LGBTQ-headed families in the classroom.

And from Chicago to Washington, DC, I talked to Jackie, a young mom who works for Children’s Protective Services. She advocates for fair foster and adoption policies, inclusive of LGBTQ parents. And she remembers the Egg Roll 2006 for positively impacting her own parents views on LGBTQ-headed families.

What amazing allies I found on my flights today!

So while Sara and Dave, Kent, Kim and Lisa, Charlene, Cheryl and Jenn were back in DC, pitching the tents, organizing our families, prepping the coffee and getting ready for the big day, I was working my way back home, spreading the message of family equality up and down the aisles. Back to work!

In the midst of the wicked cold and snow flakes that seemed magical, the community once again stepped up to support the efforts of Family Pride and made the evening one of good food, good friends, good coffee and lots of laughs.  A very special thank you goes out to Store Manager Weemad of Astor Pizza on Columbia Road in Adams Morgan.  The pizza arrived hot and delicious and many hungry stomachs were grateful.  Eric Melton, Manager of Caribou Coffee on 14th Street in Logan Circle made sure both the regular and decaf coffee drinkers were able to warm their palate and hands with a donation of coffee in warming carafes that would take us through the night.  Our community thank you’s would not be complete without thanking two people whom without this evening would never have been the success it was.  First, Cheryl Jacques, for her unwavering support and dedication, not only to the mission and staff of Family Pride….but your dedication to your family is encouraging….and Jennifer Chrisler…who pitched a tent, dressed in layers, sat in line, slept on the ground and gazed at the snow along with the rest of us.  Your leadership is inspiring.

…brought to you courtesy of coffee.

(top: staff members Kent, Dustin [the birthday boy], and Lisa; left: powering up with some coffee; right: Cheryl Jacques and Jenn Chrisler