My first impression of Netroots Nation - a love letter

Today reminds me of the song "Here We Are," simply because it's apropo to not only where the lgbt community is but where I am as an activist.

I presently sit in my first (but not my last) Netroots Nation lgbt conference and I am overwhelmed by the ideas and talent of my fellow conference mates. I have been in session for only a few hours and I don't know what I've enjoyed more - finally meeting bloggers whom I have admired from afar for a long time (Pam Spaulding, Jeremy Hooper, Joe Jervis, Zack Ford, Mike Rogers, Rod McCollum), or being exposed to all of this enthusiasm emanating from these amazing people

One thing that shines out for me is the fact that I am a long way from being that college student who ran from the library in tears in 1991 after being bombarded with information that as a gay man, I was a threat to children, morality and values.

At 40, I move a bit slower, am a little less patient, but have a lot more maturity. And I as I soak up all of the wonderful joy and power of fellow lgbt activists and bloggers, I wonder what personal stories led them to this point.

Perhaps they are as painful as mine. Or maybe not. Whatever the case is, I am glad and blessed to be here amongst them

I came to Netroots Nation with definite goals in mind - I wanted to interact with my fellow bloggers, get some new ideas of what direction I need to take with my blog, and expose myself to the different issues many of us deal with as lgbts and allies.

Believe it or not, I actually achieved a portion of these goals in an exhilarating morning session where we talked about the problems facing our community and how we can overcome these problems.

I even got a chance to stand up and publicly talk about religious right distortions  and was actually listened to.  I heard small gasps when I introduced myself.

It gave me a feeling of vindication that the four and half years I devoted to my blog - the sacrifices and choices I made in working on my blog - were all worthwhile.

Best of all, while I was shaking like a leaf while talking, I managed to control my water (bad joke, sorry).

I know I am rambling but it's a good ramble. It's a ramble which comes from the state of euphoria when one discovers one's worth for the first time and is given a good indication that one's actions have changed the world for the better, even if a little bit.

If this is what the morning brings, I can't wait until the afternoon.