(Editor’s note: San Diego Gay & Lesbian News has an exclusive local media partnership with QNotes in presenting special LGBT community-oriented coverage of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which will be Sept. 4-6 in Charlotte, N.C.)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Delegates and guests to the 2012 Democratic National Convention rose to their feet to welcome Zach Wahls to the stage. The young man and straight ally became famous across the nation after standing up at the Iowa General Assembly in support of his two mothers during that state's debate over gay marriage.

(Editor’s note: Barb Hamp Weicksel of San Diego, whose blogs have appeared on San Diego Gay & Lesbian News and LGBTQ Nation, will now become a regular contributor on SDGLN’s Commentary pages. Her commentaries will appear on Tuesdays.)

We sometimes focus so much on the things that we don’t have, or think we don’t have, or the things that we want, we tend to lose focus on the things that we do have.

I was reminded over the holiday weekend about the things that we have in our lives that bring us joy and make us happy. Mainly; I was reminded about the gift of love.

Less than two weeks after joining Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign as the GOP’s presumptive vice presidential candidate, U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan has publicly confirmed his erstwhile inner opportunist.

Ryan, who is “very proud of [his] pro-life record,” was faced with a choice between the dangling prize of the vice presidency and remaining true to the source of his pridefulness. Lo and behold, Ryan is surprisingly pro-choice, albeit in a 1-percent sort of way.

President Obama's expansion of gay rights in the military, including on-base same sex marriage and wearing uniforms in gay pride parades, would be radically yanked back in a Mitt Romney administration, according to Republican platform positions taking shape in Tampa and OK'd by the candidate.

"We're pushing back," said Elaine Donnelly, of the conservative Center for Military Readiness. "This is pretty big."