Happy post election! That's my beginning line for every blog entry today. I can't believe how relieved I am. I really thought (I must admit, and I don't like to) that McCain was going to win because he was white (not because he was the best person for the job which is why you should elect anyone president). Look at how many people Obama got to vote. Look at how close places like Mississippi (which has been Republican forever) and Georgia and even McCain's home state of Arizona were. This has never happened that I can recall in my lifetime. My mom says it hadn't happened in hers either. Even my stepdad voted for the first time, and he's 52.

When I have kids I know they're going to ask me where I was when this happened as they're learning about it in their history books. I'll tell them I was at the Paradisw City Cafe in Northampton. That I stood in line for half an hour until it was my turn to go in. That I cheered at the T.V. like everyone else. That this election wasn't stolen. That America decided we were ready for someone like Obama. That on November 4, 2008 we evolved.

Of course, the work isn't over now. Those of us who strive to make the world a better place for all humans and other species must continue doing our vital work regardless of who's in the White House. Although, I admit I think it will be easier now that we've elected someone who knows what organizing is and can do it well. But mind you, if he starts to screw up we his fellow organizers will be there to call him on it I'm sure.

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I have the following schedule for election day.

9:40-10 AM Depart for UMass... I paid a bill. Made a copy order. Ate some breakfast
Noon- Leave for Stonewall Center speech in Furculo Hall. The bus broke down and the speech was on the second floor in a building with no elevator. Luckily, the moved it. I had great fun! The students were awesome and very interactive, unlike some panels.
3PM- Leave to go vote; Go Obama!
4:15- Finish voting... Oh there were lines
5:13- Finally call Lucy about the craft show Saturday; leave a message
6:55-7:20- Leave for Obama party
10:30- Return from Obama party
Later until a winner announced... Watch the BBC News

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Dictionary.com defines flummoxed as �Informal To confuse; perplex.� I have never in my life felt this emotion until today. I was calling people about voting on Tuesday; I got a list of Ohio voters. This one guy I called said, �I don�t know whether I�m to voter for a nigger or hillbilly McCain.� I�m not kidding, he actually said the N word. It disturbed me so much I needed to stop calling folks for awhile. I wonder if this some sort of McCain plot, disturb Obama volunteers so they stop reminding voters to vote. Well. If that�s the case they won�t win with me. I�ll return to calling later this afternoon!

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I was lazy today, sleeping until past noon. I wrote a speech that I will give to a multicultural education class at UMass/Amherst. I copied it for you below and I'm eager for your comments, hopefully before 9:30 AM when I leave for my busy Election Day!

Before I begin this speech I would like to a small survey. Would all the women in the class please stand up? Thank you. Would all the people of color in the class please rise now? Would all the disabled people please join your classmates if you are able? If you can�t stand signify in some other manner. Now look around the room. Today is November 4th and I would like to remind all of you, both standing and seated, that your classmates who have risen when I have asked them questions were not allowed to vote at some point in this nation�s history. I hope you all will vote today. You have approximately 5 hours until the polls close. I don�t care who you vote for. Your vote is your own business. I do, however, care very much that you do it. Now, on with the speech.

In the course of your class, I�m sure you�ve talked about cultural relativism. However, in case you haven�t, it is the concept is that people of different backgrounds respond to things differently. We eat different food, listen to different music, dance different dances, play different games, and so on. We even respond differently to insults, hearing words like �nigger� and �faggot� have a different effect on me being both black and bisexual, than they might on a person who doesn�t belong to either minority group, although especially here in Massachusetts, they are likely to offend everyone, which they rightly should.

Another thing that annoys me as I member of multiple marginalized communities- I�m bisexual, disabled, African-American, and female in one body- is the tendency of people, often with whom I share at least one community membership- to assume that I am some first. For example, that I prioritize being black ahead of my other identities, such as being bisexual, female, or disabled. No one I know who is a member of multiple oppressed groups does this and for most part the question annoys us. My favorite quote on the subject comes from filmmaker Marlon Riggs- a black, gay man who died of AIDS. In his magnificent film, �Tongues Untied�, Marlon addresses this concept by relating the conversation he had with a fellow black man who asked him whether he considered himself first black or gay and what he wished his response would have been, �Or to speak in language this brother could understand, what would he choose, his right eye or his left nut?� I was 20 years old when I first saw this movie and I remember sitting in the theater crying because someone understood what I was going through as a member of more than one oppressed community.

I never met Marlon Riggs but he profoundly affected me as an artist and a person of multiple oppressed identities. He helped me find my voice. The next time someone asks me what I am first I�m going to tell them plainly, �What I am first at this moment is someone who badly wants to hit you in the face.� I may not actually hit them because I don�t believe in violence, but I think I�ll get my point across.

Thank you for listening and please, as I said at the beginning of the speech, go vote today.

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I went to a "No on 1" celebration. Question one was a ballot question that would've eliminated the Massachusetts state income tax, which would've been bad for schools, disabled people, hospitals, and what not. I thought lots of my friends would be at the party and opted to forgo a writing group to attend it. But no I knew really well was there. So, being me, I simply inserted myself with new people. I met a friend named Kitty who knows a fellow Florence poet. I'm going to a food bank fundraiser on the 15th. They'll be music. I found out about it the "No on 1" party. Demi will be a good party going person!

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