Yesterday I had a bright idea: instead of stopping every hour (sometimes every half hour) to eat, gas the car, walk the dogs, or change the baby, we should do all of that and then drive for three hours. Straight, if you’ll forgive the expression. So that’s what we did. The dogs and I held our pee. Frances didn’t cry because of her diaper. Ami played me podcasts and read me e-mail and interesting tweets. The car cruised along at its set 65 mph, and it was almost easy to forget we were driving.

Until the car started to slow down. Sure, you probably knew that was coming, and why the car was slowing down. But I didn’t. I looked at the speedometer. I looked at the cruise control indicator. I think I even checked the gas pedal.

Then, and only then did I look at the gas gauge. And I yelled, “Oh, my god, we are completely out of gas!”

My wife, whom I have now been married to for over three years, knew not to get alarmed. “Just pull over,” she said calmly. “We have over a gallon of gas in the back.” So shoved onto the tiny shoulder on the Ohio Turnpike, Ami got out, found our gas can, and fought the gale-force wind every time a semi passed us at full speed. This is the downside of the gas tank being located on the driver’s side, apparently. Great for when you fill up. Lousy for when you are being almost sideswiped by tractor trailers.

If I haven’t said it yet today, I love my wife.

Sorry for complaining yesterday. We’re skipping reporting on Pennsylvania today, since we’re going to stay there for a couple of days with my cousin outside of Philly. So we’re all caught up after Michigan and Ohio.

Michigan

• Same-sex marriage and civil union is prohibited in Michigan by constitutional amendment, which received 59% of the popular vote in 2004. [via The Michigan Messenger] “To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.”
• Same-sex partners are not allowed to make medical decisions unless they are appointed as patient advocates. This designation must be in writing, signed, dated, and witnessed by two people. It also must be placed in the patient’s medical records prior to the implementation of the designation.
• Adoption is a little hairy in Michigan. Single LGBT individuals may adopt. One court ruled that only married people can adopt jointly. But in at least one case joint adoptions were granted to a lesbian couple. The biological mother in the couple terminated her parental rights so the couple could petition to adopt together. They were granted the adoption. When their relationship ended, the biological mother tried to dissolve the adoption on the basis of the fact that they were unmarried, but was unsuccessful. There is no explicit prohibition of same-sex couples adopting each other’s children, but one judge has acted to block second parent adoption by getting all petitions for them sent to his court.
• After sex reassignment surgery and with a physician’s affidavit, a new birth certificate can be issued.
• Crimes committed because of the victim’s sexual orientation are recorded, but there is no penalty enhancement in Michigan. There is no protection for gender identity.
• Anti-discrimination laws in Michigan do not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Safe schools laws in Michigan do not mention sexual orientation or gender identity. [via HRC unless otherwise noted]

Ohio

• Same-sex marriage is prohibited in Ohio by constitutional amendment. In 2004, 62% of Ohio voters approved the amendment. “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.” [via Wikipedia]
• Same-sex partners are not permitted to make medical decisions for an incapacitated partner unless there is a health care power of attorney in place. This must be in writing, signed, dated, and notarized.
• Amendments to Ohio birth certificates are generally permitted, but in 1987 a court ruled that this did not include changes to sex information.
• Hate crimes laws do not include gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Non-discrimination laws in Ohio do not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
• There are no safe schools laws in Ohio. [via HRC unless otherwise noted]

Whew. That was not particularly uplifting. Quick, someone from one of these states tell me the good news.

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