Our Stories

"Arms Encircling" and "Valentine's Day 2004"

by Rik Fire
Ministerial Intern with the Ecumenicon Fellowship

Rik Fire is a Ministerial Intern with the Ecumenicon Fellowship, an Interfaith Church in Maryland. He is due to be ordained as an Interfaith Minister in April, 2004. Rik is a Masters Level, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, working currently in the field of managed behavioral healthcare. He is a Reiki Master and Shamanistic practitioner; whose private practice speciality is holistic health and issues related to gender and sexuality. He is a Two-Spirit Cherokee by birthright. Rik is deeply connected to the healing of rhythm and the drum. Rik Fire lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his fiance, his 8-year-old child, and their 2 dogs.

Arms Encircling

Mama reaches down, as baby departs her Womb
     Mama's Arms Encircling New Life.
New Life reaches up, to suckle Life-Giving…
     Baby's Arms Encircling Giver of Life.

Bedtime stories and prayers; kisses and hugs.
     Daddy's Arms Encircling Wonder.
Wonder tucked under the covers; safe and warm.
     Child's Arms Encircling Unconditional Love.

Lonely soul searching for place in the world.
     True Community's Arms Encircling Gentle Soul.
Gentle Soul brings enchantments, gifts and presence.
     Vibrant Soul's Arms Encircling Community.

Lover rolls over and reaches for Lover.
     Lover's Arms Encircling Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Lover cries out with challenge and pain;
     Lover's Arms Encircling Commitment and Security.

All Peoples, different and the same, seeking Blessings from Above.
     Arms Encircling the Totality of the All.
Beauty, Grace and Spirit's Arms Encircling the Universe.
     All Arms Encircling Love.

Valentine's Day 2004

8 members of Bux-Mont Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship trek to Philadelphia…..February 14th, 2004.
Site is Love Park…..15th and JFK Boulevard.
It is cold and windy.
Happy couples taking prenup photos.
The famous Philly LOVE statue, draped with a rainbow flag is the backdrop.
We pose and a Bux-Mont friend plays photographer for us and the other Bux-Mont couple.

2 MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) Ministers preside,
     as 37 couples arrange themselves in an arc configuration
     to Bless each other and their Unions;
     to publicly Proclaim their Vows of Life Commitment;
     to stand before family, friends, allies and curious onlookers AND
     the ABC, CBS and Fox TV newcams---
     so that Our Love is a 30-second blurb in Your Living Room on
     Valentine's Day.

Why am I there?
     To celebrate Valentine's Day, with my honey, in a special way.
     To be in ceremony and solidarity with our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
     And Transgender brothers and sisters.
     To look my love in the eyes, while others do the same.
     And Feel strong in my presence.
     Feel strong in my sacred covenant.
     Feel srong in the struggle.

For my partner, my fiancé, and I---
     We can legally marry; but another Bux-Mont couple is making plans to go to Canada and must wonder if and when that marriage will be recognized here in the States. Some of our Bux-Mont friends who came to witness and be present can legally marry; Are legally married to their Opposite Sex Partners, too.

And I hope that the Bux-Mont youth who came can marry whomever she chooses, if she so chooses, when she is an adult.
Yet, they too stood Witness. They too stood in solidarity.
Why?
To denounce our President's proposed Defense of Marriage Amendment, as marriage only to be between one man and one woman.
To applaud the Massachusetts Supreme Courtand the Mayor of San Francisco.
To See, Be Present For, Honor and Revere the lives of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender couples and families.

For my partner, my fiancé and I---we can legally marry;
     But 4 years ago, we could not have.
     Had I not transitioned, we would not have been able to.
     Had I been born in a state where it is illegal to EVER change the
     Assigned sex on your birth certificate, we would not be able to.

So, our Valentine's Day this year was spent in Love Park.
We recognized the silent glances wondering why we were there…
     We were greeted at the post-ceremony reception with---
     "Are you family of a couple", although my partner carried a bouquet of flowers.
     At couples first dance; other couples silently wondered, "What's this straight couples' story?"
     We enjoyed the festivities and each other and our friends and we knew and know; as our friends do, why we were there.
     And we are open for the asking.
     Hope your Valentines Day was full of powerful love, too.

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