Taking note (also, reasons to celebrate)

[scarlettina]

Wanted to note some things from this week, for the record.

SCOTUS rulings
The Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Affordable Care Act as written, striking down a challenge to the law that would have deprived millions of Americans their health care coverage. The law isn't perfect, but it's still better than what we had before the ACA was enacted. Right on, SCOTUS!

The Supreme Court also held that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, a huge move forward for the civil rights of all Americans. The news came on Friday and I was so jubilant that I actually found it hard to focus on work. I know that for my LGTB friends the fight isn't over--for rights to equal housing, equal recognition at work, and even for this law to stand in especially conservative states. But the SCOTUS ruling makes it harder for conservatives to deny LGTB citizens a fundamental right, and that's something to truly celebrate.

Awards
This weekend, as happens annually, was the Locus Awards event. I hadn't been planning to go this year. But a couple of weeks back, I got a call from the_child. Her mother got on the phone to tell me that jaylake had been nominated for an award for his final collection of short stories, the_child had been specifically invited to attend the awards ceremony in his place, and asked if the_child could stay with me. The implication was a request for me to be her chaperone for the weekend. It wasn't a request I could deny. the_child stayed with me, we attended the awards banquet together and jaylake did, in fact, win the award posthumously. I videoed the_child's acceptance; she did beautifully. There were some sniffles in the room. It was a great, if exhausting, visit.

At the day job, I have been nominated for an award for my work on creating a health literacy initiative intended to help make communications with our members easier to understand, and to make health care in general more accessible. I doubt I will win; the award is for work accomplished, not work merely planned. We haven't actually done anything that benefits our members yet; it's all been planning. But I'm delighted to be nominated.

Comments

[soon_lee]

That's a lovely story. Is the video of the acceptance speech available anywhere?

(I've only met her the once, on their New Zealand visit. This brings back memories)

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

No video yet. I shot it vertically but it's displaying horizontally. Trying to get that fixed, and since she's under 21, I'm reluctant to share it publicly, given how protective Jay was. Will fix the orientation problem first, and then check with her and her mom to see what their comfort level is about sharing it.

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Your weekend sounds emotional and gratifying.

And congrats on the award nomination! I have thought from the beginning that you were the ideal person to tackle the literacy project.

[herself_nyc]

That's great (last paragraph); it means you're on the radar at your company, which is so important.

[oldmangrumpus.livejournal.com]

OK, it's been 3 days - I WANT MY GAY APOCALYPSE!!!!!

Why aren't toads raining from the heavens??? Why hasn't the Mississippi turned to blood? Mount Rushmore shattered into sand? The Tidal Basin a lake of fire?

Or was that all bullshit?