In Buffalo, NY, there is Canisius College

We've been having the most odd luck. Our screenings seem to land right around really odd acts of nature and humanity and when we arrive, the campuses are a little off axis. This time, we're in Buffalo at Canisius College which is named after St. Canisius and is a Jesuit school. Their freak adventure was a very early snow storm in October to where there was so much snow, and the trees still had their leaves, the branches and sometimes the leaves themselves snapped and fell...sometimes roots and all.

This caused power outages to lots of blocks, included dorms and classrooms on campus. Where our event was held, we had power so, "the band played on." We screened in a cultural center where it's a revamped old church with beautiful stained glass and stone work.

We sat in the greenroom during the movie and handled some phone call meetings since we were three hours ahead of most of our team back in California. They left us chocolate chip cookies and water, which is my favorite snack in the world. Ahhh....choc chip cookies.

For the Q&A, we had some great questions on the film and us personally. We always lay the groundwork that we're transparent and can answer anything asked...if we know the answer anyway. One person asked about the differences between marriage and civil unions and I told the audience how I feel when I'm reminded my status is considered second class because everytime I fill out my tax forms, I have to lie and say I'm single...under penalty of perjury no less. I'm not single. I'm married. But, I have to lie to my government because it judges my choice of love to another human being. I just have to laugh...probably because I don't know what else to do sometimes...that my marriage to Luane is decided upon as legit or not by strangers in voting booths by punching a card.

So, the best way we try to answer all questions is demonstrating what it's like for us, tell our personal stories. Then, the audience can decide on its own what it feels and believes. We can only tell our truth.

Buffalo also has an interesting plethora of Greek restaurants. Not sure why, but we always eat at locally owned cafes and restaurants wherever we travel so we can get the local feel and we kept ending up at Greek places. The food was excellent and our company was fantastic. We'd eat with other leaders at the University and we'd have some great, open and honest talks about issues effecting our lives. We broke all the dinner table etiquette rules and talked about religion and politics. We'd have some folks look over and stare, and that's okay. Glad they were interested and I hope they got something out of it.

Buffalo has a small gay area/street called Allentown and we just loved the old buildings. We went by an old church that Ani DeFranco bought and is renovating into a recording studio. There was this fantastic quilt tied between two trees in front of the church...not sure what it was doing out in the rain, but it was bright and colorful amonng the gray and brick.

Loved our visit to Buffalo. The students there have strong boundaries, they are motivated and have VERY strong ally support. One kid said there was another student calling him names and spitting on him and the kid told him to stop and when he didn't, he said the student crossed the line and put a restraining order on him due to harassment. THAT'S knowing and upholding your boundaries and nipping hatin' in the bud. Everyone deserves respect and just because you may not agree, doesn't give you the right to act like a dork.