Maine is over me. But I just can’t get over Maine. Welcome to the first “Riese’s Pieces” column, where I turn feelings into sentences and hopefully, sometimes, actual points.

Equality’s inevitable but so are death and taxes.

Autostraddle hits the streets on Friday night to talk to THE PEOPLE about marriage equality. Includes a lot of hopping and jumping and screaming and total cuteness.

Wanna look at cute and happy in love gay people who just got engaged?

If you were worried that your tax dollars weren’t going to be used to defend DOMA any longer, well, you can probably rest easy now.

Are you ready to get this Prop 8 thing taken care of once and for all? SO ARE WE. We recap today’s closing arguments on the Prop 8 trial on gay marriage in California, with characteristic Autostraddle style and class.

Blankenhorn is the other side’s Big Hope. He claims to be a liberal democrat but opposes same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, it seems the only peers who’ve ever reviewed him are the Americans For Truth About Homosexuality. NO BUT SERIOUSLY it’s really fascinating. Today’s recap = fascinating.

“Do u think part of the reason gay rights has moved forward while women’s rights backwards is b/c gay rights includes men’s rights?”

Taiwan’s ruling made me curious about how the news was being received by LGBTQ people across Asia. Did they too face cultural and institutional oppression against their gender and sexuality, or were their countries more accepting? Would the ruling have any impact on their livelihoods? Is Taiwan an inspiration for their leaders to consider marriage equality or LGBTQ rights overall, or will it not matter as much? I set out to find out by reaching out to LGBTQ activists in 42 Asian countries.

Guess what, another decade is over! Here’s a retrospective on the best of times and worst of times in the 00’s for the queers.

Day Four of the Prop 8 Trial and the other side is getting really desperate. But we’ve got our game faces on for testimony on the effects of prejudice & social stigma on gays and of gay marriage on the economy. But funnier!

As new anti-gay marriage campaigns are released in anticipation of the 2012 referendums, let’s see how far homophobic ads have come (or not).

“I love being gay because I get to call these brilliant and vibrant queers my friends and family.”

If you’re experiencing a slow build of paralyzing anxiety over the 2012 Presidential race and need someone to hold your hand and explain the big names and Death Eater alter-egos, this is your lucky day.

“Maybe this man is not really a witness at all, but just here to annoy us. ” Because he sure ain’t doing much for the other team…

Republicans are coming out in number to express their support for marriage equality. How can this end well?

I DO NOT THINK THIS COULD GET ANY CRAZIER. Seriously, I thought I knew how crazy the other side was, BUT I DID NOT KNOW HOW CRAZY THE OTHER SIDE WAS.

It’s the very last day! And Blackenhorn continues to dig his own grave; defending polygamy and generally being a petulant h8er: “I feel like there must be some secret clause in legal proceedings that when someone says something this f*cking stupid, they automatically forfeit the case for their team. Like losing the Snitch. The polygamous Snitch.”

It has arrived! The day is here! The Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments about marriage equality this morning.

Prop 8 Trial: The Recap. In Day Two, we analyze the history of marriage and the history of anti-gay propaganda, and we fantasize about a West Wing Prop 8 Trial Musical Revue, with lots of graphics!