A San Antonio man was murdered in front of a local bar after he allegedly made a sexual advance toward another man. Enrique Santos, 22, has confessed to the murder of 50 year old, Jorge Sgetelmeg, stating that a fight broke out after Sgetelmeg purchased some beer for Santos. According to Santos’ confession and affidavit, Sgetelmeg and he were sharing the beer in his SUV. Sgetelmeg made a sexual advance at Santos and Santos punched him several times in the face before removing a rock from his pocket and hitting him several more times – then chocking the man with a neck tie.

On Saturday, November 8, 2009, Christopher and I jumped in my car and began the long drive to Austin, Texas. We had seen on facebook that nearly 200 people had confirmed to attend a marriage equality rally in Austin, Texas to show solidarity with the election in Maine. We had hoped for a large turnout; however, upon arriving at the rally point, only about 20 people were standing around the small stage, still furiously attempting to make their signs for the impromptu rally.

I just spoke with Jeremy DaRos of RageAgainstTheRight.com who is attending the No On One Maine party in Portland at the Holiday Inn. Attendees are cautiously optimistic as numbers are slowly working their way in. Because Maine precincts are small, Jeremy tells us we can expect faster results than most states with large metropolitan city centers.

You’re help is needed now more than ever in the quest for equality. It’s time we start taking action. Obama told us “Yes we can,” but first, we have to DO. I’ve signed up to help in Washington already, and moments after posting, I’ll be heading over to sign up to help in Maine. But one person isn’t enough. Send everyone you know the following information, courtesy of Equality Texas and fight along with me for equality for ALL!

During the National Equality March, I was one of numerous LGBTQ bloggers on the ground snagging pictures and interviews with people by way of iQreport. I was determined to get as many stories as possible from all sorts of people, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional flood that would overcome me as I saw the faces and heard the stories from the crowd.

Many of these stories happened off camera, like the man whose (would-be) husband was concerned about him appearing on video because he could lose his job, or the young boy who, after we talked with his family, wanted to do an interview of his own.

I’ve only visited Maine once in my life. It was late September and the leaves were just barely starting to show variations in their colors. I spent a long time at the airport in Bangor waiting for the luggage the airline had lost. While at the airport, authorities spotted a suspicious package and evacuated the entire terminal. I stood outside with a hundred or so other people. We were all caught off guard, a bit confused and some of us were even a bit scared.

If you are like me, you can always think of a great comeback to an offensive comment. One day later.

This last week was a whirlwind for me. One week past the National Equality March and I’m still processing everything that I experienced and felt. I felt so prepared to take on the world with such powerful words given to me by the speakers, with such energy and friendliness from everyone that I met.

We always hear the words “gay community” when talking amongst ourselves, but what is it? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people span a spectrum of diversity that doesn’t lump us together by class, race, religion or really any binding character, trait or belief. The only commonality most of us have with one another is that we are discriminated against socially and in our judicial system. Perhaps, that is enough to create a “community.”

Perhaps I’m stretching a bit, but there was a moment at the National Equality March that I will never forget. Perhaps I’ve made it more profound than it may have really been, but I feel the need to share it. When Lt. DanChoi, the U.S. soldier and Arabic linguist discharged under the military’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy, took to the stage to speak to the crowd, his mouth was symbolically duct taped closed. He stood there for a moment, saluting the marchers before tearing the duct tape from his mouth and beginning his speech. It was a moment of dramatic flare that spoke volumes.

I wanted to share some of my photographs from the National Equality March this weekend. I hope you enjoy them. I met some fantastic people and had a wonderful dinner at The District Chophouse with Genia Stevens, Andrea, Lester Leavitt, Mickey, Jonathon, Jae, Elisa, and, of course, our very own, Jude.

We had a bit of time to just kick back and get to know each other in person on Saturday night, but Sunday came at us fast and there was a lot of work to be done.