The purpose of last night's session, as most of you know, was to explain how LGBT people can fill out their 2010 Census forms in a way that will reflect if they are same-sex couples in "married" relationships, either legally married or in a long-term, intimate relationship.

That might not seem like such a big deal, but consider these things:

*Prior to the 2000 Census, if Person 1 and Person 2 in a household were both male or both female and in the box indicating the relationship status of Person 1 and Person 2 they checked the box "Husband or Wife," the Census automatically assumed a mistake, and "corrected" the form by counting Person 1 and Person 2 as male and female, regardless of what was written.

*In the past, our elected representatives, who should be representing all of us, could make statements such as "I don't have to consider the desires or needs of gay constituents because my District doesn't have any," and there was no statistical evidence to refute their claims.

But now, by checking the box that says the relationship of Person 1 to Person 2 is "Husband or Wife," we begin to appear before our very eyes! We are no longer invisible. We begin to count. We begin to destroy myths such as these: Gay couples only live in urban areas. Gay couples don't raise children. Gay people are promiscuous and don't have committed relationships. Gay people are all rich and don't need to be considered for assistance programs.

I'm sure I can't do justice here to what the experience meant to me, but I bet you can think of a similar experience in which you realized "I matter. I count. I'm worthy." Perhaps it was when someone you admired or respected sought you out for input or your opinion. Perhaps it was when your parents recognized you and your partner as a family. Perhaps it was when you realized that to your professor or mentor you weren't just a name in a grade book but a real person, valued and appreciated.

As I experienced these feelings last night, I couldn't help thinking about Harvey Milk and his words: "Like every other group, we must be judged by our leaders and by those who are themselves gay, those who are visible. For invisible, we remain in limbo--a myth, a person with no parents, no brothers, no sisters, no friends who are straight, no important positions in employment."

It is a blessing to be visible. To be counted. To be known. And we who name ourselves Christians share the blessing every day of being seen, and known, and beloved by God.

I hope you'll share that blessing today by affirming someone's visibility in your life. Thank a teacher. Call an old friend. Learn your neighbors' names and call them by their names. Invite someone to visit MCC Austin with you. Congratulate a co-worker. Learn your waiter's name or look your cashier in the eye and say, "Thank you."

Let people know they count.

Always in Hope,