III
Rising up, back on the street So many times it happens too fast It's the eye of the tiger Face to face, out in the heat It's the eye of the tiger Rising up, straight to the top It's the eye of the tiger
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger
Hanging tough, staying hungry
They stack the odds still we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive
It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive
It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger
Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor
The Year 2010 got off to an auspicious start when four activists of the group Queer Rising were arrested during a protest at a New York City marriage bureau. Chanting "One struggle, one fight, marriage is a civil right", it started a year of protests throughout New York State demanding that same-sex couples be allowed to marry.
Most protests were non-violent, which is how groups like Blair's Foundation wanted it. They wanted to win on merit, not sensationalism. Violence would only lead to a backlash against the movement, as had happened after the Stonewall Riots in 1969. The debate over same-sex marriage was becoming mainstream, not on the fringes any longer. The momentum was going in their direction.
Early in 2010, Jo and Blair had dinner with Georgia and Boots, to talk about where things stood, as well as the latter's plans to head out west and start a project chronicling teenage homelessness for the Denver Post in concert with Natalie. They had sold their beloved studio, but felt that doing this freelance work and the work for The Post was something they were compelled to do.
"Guys", Georgia said as they shared a nacho dip appetizer, "of the four of us, I can give you a unique perspective. I'm a lesbian, well, duh", she said to chuckles, "but I'm also black. I've been fighting two battles all my life for acceptance, and here we are in 2010, and both still aren't a reality."
"That's a good point", Blair said, having never even considered that fact about Georgia Compton. To them, she was simply a friend and Boots' lover. "If only the world didn't exist with such prejudices and hatreds", she lamented.
"We all have our prejudices, Blair", Georgia reminded her. "Some may not be about skin color, or sexual preference, but we all have some things that turn us off. The point is that it can take forever and a day to reach our goals."
"But isn't the struggle itself worth the effort?"
Everyone looked at Boots. She had never been a deep thinker when she was young, but the divorce from her family, and meeting Georgia had changed her life-as had reconnecting with Blair and Jo. She was no longer just a quirky girl, but a woman who wanted a better life, not just for herself, but for everyone who was marginalized.
"I dunno, Boots", Jo countered. "The struggle has its rewards, but at the end of the day, the reward has to be gaining those rights you feel you should have, in this case, marriage equality and acceptance for simply being who you are."
"That's why it's so important that you two chronicle, through photography, the struggle of homeless teenagers", Blair said earnestly. "Not just gay and lesbian kids, but any kid who has been disowned by their families. That's as important for the future as marriage rights."
"Natalie has said her Boss is all for the project, and the paper is a hundred percent behind it", Georgia declared. "I think the timing is right, with more states considering marriage equality, which means equality for LGBTQ's in general. If we can help get one kid back together with their family..."
"Preaching to the choir, Georgia", Jo said softly, remembering her own banishment that had lasted half a decade. "You two better keep us in formed of what's going on. Maybe I should talk to Natalie's boss to see if the Foundation could use some of the images. After all, we're pushing for the same thing."
The friends finished dinner, going their separate ways for who knew how long, with Blair and Jo staying where they were, but the other two headed out west. Jo pulled Boots aside before their final goodbye.
"You take care of yourself out there, kiddo", Jo said warmly, giving Boots a hug. "I'm damn proud of who you've become, Barbara St. Clair."
"That means a lot to me, Jo", Boots said, tearing up. "I owe a lot of it due to you and Blair coming back into my life."
"Maybe that's true, but you did the heavy lifting, Boots", Jo reminded her. "You're the one who turned your life around, just like I did mine. We had a lot of help, Blair with me and Georgia with you, but we made the changes."
Boots hugged Jo again, then giving her a kiss on the cheek. "You two keep us in your thoughts and prayers? Oh", she added before turning away, "if this thing does pass in New York, we better get a wedding invitation." She winked at Jo, who blushed as Boots turned away.
Jo caught Blair watching her, a smile on her face as well. They would miss their two friends, who had come to mean so much to each of them.
Jo Polniaczek had never been more nervous in her entire life. Here she was, in July of the year 2010, she and Blair were seated at a table with other advocates of granting same-sex marriage, about to give testimony to the United States Senate's Judiciary Committee. Blair was next to her, with Diane Ramsey on the other side of Blair. There was no pending legislation but the Senate, at the controlled by Democrats who were more receptive to the idea of marriage equality, wanted to hold hearing to keep the issue on the front burner. It was as much to keep pressure on the different states who were grappling with the issue. The one state that, at the moment, was closest to another vote on the issue was New York.
Which is why Blair and Jo were there. They were known quantities in the halls of the New York State government, Blair seen more as the respected pragmatist, while Jo was seen, on both sides of the issue, as the fire that burned within the movement in general.
After being called to order, the Chairman of the committee, allowed Blair to speak first.
"Many of you know me by name. Some of you have met me in the past, when my father was CEO of Warner International, and when I was a Vice-President there for a time. It's apparent that some of you even wonder what Blair Warner, the heir to the keys of Warner International at one time, had turned away from that life to pursue what we discuss today.
"The answer is simple." She looked at Jo with a smile. "It's called love. And love between two adults that consent to it shouldn't be a political or judicial issue. It should be a fundamental right we all have under the Constitution that we adhere to."
When Jo spoke, she was more blunt. "This issue is about my life, as a human being. It's a microcosm of everything I've been through since I was a teenager. It was then I realized that I was attracted to girls, not boys. Later on, a friend of mine, who my daughter is named after, committed suicide because she and I kissed when we were fourteen, her parents shaming her to the point she couldn't take it any longer. When I was twenty-one, my parents rejected me, as did the rest of my family and my Church, because I was a lesbian, and refused to deny that truth to myself. And because of that, and because I was afraid that the young woman I was in love with was out of reach and wouldn't understand..." He voice choked with the memories of writing that letter to Blair years ago. "I disappeared for five years, living on the streets in the western part of the United States, homeless, friendless, becoming a heroin addict, almost freezing to death one weekend in a blizzard in Colorado.
"I OD'd in San Diego and almost died, and when I awoke, that woman..." Again Jo teared up at the memory, "that I was so afraid to tell that I was in love with, came to me and over the next few years, helped save me as a person. That person has been my partner now for over a decade. She's the woman sitting to my right, Blair Warner."
Some on the committee who had known Blair when she was younger knew none of this, despite the publicity the two had garnered in New York. A few of the more conservative members, who had known her father years before, briefly looked shocked, years of political hardball instantly hiding that surprise.
When the questioning began, the minority members of the committee didn't focus on Blair. Most of them had been and still were lawyers, and they went after what they thought would be easy prey-the emotional Jo Polniaczek.
"Ms. Polniaczek", Senator Cindy McCormack, Republican from Iowa began her questioning. "Thank you for coming before us today. You tell us you've known you're a lesbian since you were a teenager, is that correct?"
Jo had been cleaning up her language for this appearance, and it showed. "That is correct, Senator."
"When did you first meet your partner, Ms. Warner?"
"We met at Eastland Academy in Peekskill, New York, my Freshman year in High School."
"Did you two get along at first?"
This broad has done her homework, Jo thought to herself. Someone's been feeding her information. I wonder who?
On the outside, however, Jo chuckled. "Let's just say that we had strong opinions about each other right from the get-go. It took us some time to become friends."
"The first night you had met Blair, the two of you ended up in a jail in Peekskill for a run-in with a police officer."
"That is correct. We weren't there a very long time."
"And you threatened another woman in the holding cell?"
Jo smiled. "If you want to put it that way. She had threatened to steal Blair's watch, and I told the lady to keep her hands to herself."
"Is it true that once, at Eastland, you assaulted Ms. Warner?"
Jo didn't answer at first, but eyed the other woman. "And that has what to do with this, Senator?"
"Just background information."
"A good friend Blair's had decided to become a nun. I happened to meet her for the first time one weekend when she visited Blair. Blair wasn't happy that her friend Meg wanted to be a nun. After spending the weekend with Meg, I decided, obviously too rashly, that I wanted to become a nun, since my faith has always been-and still is, I might add-important to me. Blair got angry and said 'prove to me God exists', so I punched her."
It was obvious the Senator didn't know the gist of the story, as she looked surprised that the girl who knew she was a lesbian then had defended her own faith in God. But the Senator was smooth and changed course a little.
"So you have a history of being in a gang, and being arrested, and prone to violent outburst?"
Jo smiled. Two could play this game. "Senator, I'm sure when you were, say fourteen or fifteen, or even a few years older, you did things that now you're not proud of, and would never do now as an adult, am I right?"
"I'm the one asking the questions..."
"Am I right or not, Senator?" Jo's voice was calm but demanding. "This is not a courtroom, and I am not on trail here, and if the best you can do is drag up what I was like between the ages of fourteen and twenty one, as means to discredit me now, and my wish to be allowed to marry my partner, just as you are married to yours, then you've lost the debate before it's even started."
Applause broke out in the galleries behind the witness stand, the Chairman using his gavel to restore order. Blair had glanced at the Chairman of the Committee, and he caught her eye, giving her a small smile and an almost imperceptible wink as if to say "that's quite a lady you have there." Blair bowed her head and smile, not wanting to gloat too much.
As the committee meeting ended, the media covering the event were all over Jo. Not only had the Senator from Iowa taken Jo's wrath, so had several other Senators opposed to same-sex marriage. By the time they headed back to New York City, Jo had become a national celebrity for the LGBTQ cause.
As they exited the Committee chamber, Blair turned and gave Jo a loving kiss and a hug, whispering to her oh so softly. "I think you've earned a reward for tonight, my love."
"Oh yeah?" Jo grinned. "I'm beginnin' to love politics more and more, then." They both laughed and headed home.
Their flight from Reagan National Airport to LaGuardia had been delayed by thunderstorms between New York and D.C, Jo calling her parents and requesting that the kids stay the night with their grandparents. Since school was out, it was no problem, and Charlie told her to just take it easy until they could pick up the kids the next day.
Very late that night, Blair had kept her promise to Jo, bringing her lover to multiple, mind-blowing orgasms. Jo insisted it not be a one-way street, and had wrestled Blair into a rare Sixty-Nine between them, both of them climaxing at the same moment, panting, sweaty, and their face covered with the essence of the other.
A few moments after they had finished, Jo reversed position, and rolled Blair over, covering her lover's body with her own.
"Does this mean I should get into more fights with tight-assed Senators?"
Blair wailed in laughter. "I don't know about that, my beautiful barbarian, but God, if you could have seen the look on Senator McCormack's face at that moment!"
"You know", Jo admitted, leaning down and kissing one of Blair's nipples, "I didn't even notice her reaction? I was too damn angry and scared that Senate security was gonna haul my ass outta there."
Blair again laughed delightedly. "The Chairman actually smiled and winked at me after you said that."
"He wasn't makin' a pass at you, was he Princess?" Jo didn't quite get it.
"No, silly", she said, bringing in Jo's lips for a fiery kiss. "He was letting me know in his own way that he approved of what you did without letting anyone else known."
"Oh, yeah?" Jo's face lit up. "Goddamn, I'm enjoying politics more and more."
"Enough of the politics, Jo Polniaczek", Blair admonished her, still laughing, but dragging one of Jo's hands down her stomach, through the small patch of blonde hair and to the desired destination. Getting the idea, Jo sank two fingers into her partner, Blair purring. "Although, to be honest, I think I'm beginning to like politics more and more, come to think of it", Blair said, Jo laughing before working to bring her lover to another climax.