Friends, we made you a celebration cake today because love has finally won. But before we get to that, I’m turning my blog over to my daughter Emily, to share her story. She’s seriously awesome.
When I was nine years old, I was having a sleep over with my best friend. As we were falling asleep, the topic of homosexuality fell upon us. Since my friend was a Christian, she said that she thought homosexuality was wrong, because God wanted men and women to be together. Even as a nine year who thought to herself “don’t be gay, don’t be gay, don’t be gay,” I told this girl “People love who they love.” And, of course, I still stand by that statement today.
When I was eleven years old, a different friend of mine came out as bisexual. I told her, in private, that I was also bisexual, I supported her, and I was there if she needed any help. She then told my sixth-grade-boyfriend at the time that I was bisexual, because she thought he ought to know that part of me.
Word got around my class that Emily Dick was bi. I was insanely worried, and ended up crying in the arms of my sixth-grade-enemy. A few days later, I officially came out to my best friend (who said “so…?”), then my step mom, then my mom and step dad, then my dad, then my grandparents. All at the age of eleven.
When I was thirteen, my best friend, who was very Christian, harassed me on the first night of my spring break after I showed him a “gay is okay” poster I made for an oral report. He texted me bible verses that opposed homosexuality, texted me more about how I was going to hell, and called me saying that I was disgusting. No matter how hurtful it got, I kept arguing with him.
Now, almost fifteen, my life in high school revolves around trying to unify my class, and telling others that equality matters. I ran for class president, reprimand kids when they use the word “faggot,” and tell them the origin of the term, and tell people not to call each other and things “gay” in a hateful way. No matter what little I can do, I do it.
This morning, at around 5:30 a.m, I woke up and checked Instagram. The first post was a picture of a tweet by the president, Barack Obama, that says “Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins.”
Under further investigation, I realised that gay marriage had been legalised in all fifty states in the United States of America. I was so ecstatic, that I burst into my parents room, and shouted what I’d heard. Then, I called my father to tell him. Then one of my best friends. Then one of my other friends. Then I texted my uncle. I couldn’t believe it.
I am so incredibly thrilled that my community now has the simple right to marry wherever they want in this country. It’s been such an incredible journey, harder for some, and this is such a crazy, joyful day. While there’s still work to do with equality in every form, this country made a huge breakthrough today.
In celebration of this event, I immediately wanted to make a cake honouring this accomplishment. This is it: The Gay Pride Cake.
- 1 box funfetti cake mix plus ingredients required on box
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple gel food coloring
- M&M's colors separated
- Blue sugar or sprinkles
- To assemble this cake, start out by making your funfetti cake layers according to package directions. Allow your cake layers to cool completely.
- To make your frosting, beat together butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, then crank up the mixer to medium for a minute or so to smooth everything out. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Pull out about a quarter cup of the frosting and dye it purple with the gel food coloring. Why? Because there are no purple M&Ms.
- Frost your cake all over with your cream cheese frosting like you would any layer cake. Put your purple frosting in a piping bag with a round tip and pipe a border of pretty purple dots all the way around the bottom edge of your cake.
- Next make a ring of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red M&Ms all the way around your cake.
- Finally, use wax paper to cut out an equal sign template. I recommend making your template big enough to cover the whole top of the cake, so you don't get stray sprinkles like we did. Sprinkle your blue sugar or sprinkles over your template, then gently lift it away.
- Slice and celebrate love!
- If your working in a warm kitchen, you may need to stash your frosting, then later your frosted cake, in the fridge for 15 minutes to make sure things don't get too soft and melty. It will take longer, but you'll have much better results.
- DO NOT put your M&Ms in the fridge before separating. They'll be sticky and the color will rub off on your hands.
Now that is truly awesome! Emily, you never fail to impress and amaze.
But you’ve made me want cake… Damn you!
I told you she was awesome!