After weeks of being immersed in bad news about Iraq, I have had a beautiful news-junkie day of watching the progress of hundreds of gay couples getting married in Massachusetts. I knew intellectually it was coming but to see all of the folks turn out for midnight marriage licenses in Cambridge really got to me. I’ve been happy and teary all day.
I talked with my brother on the phone tonight and he said he and his partner are considering going out, getting married and bringing that certificate back to Illinois to see what transpires. The repercussions are going to be widespread and yet I think, in the end, subtle. The Massachusetts folks are banking on the two years that it will take to get the anti-gay marriage State Constitutional Amendment to the voters to mellow the issue out. By then, the hope is, it will be no big deal.
And it isn’t.
But it is. I am very happy for the folks in Massachusetts. Congratulations, you’re all beautiful!
Photos:
http://www.hrc.org/
http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/gallery/around_the_state
Webast of Cambridge at Midnight:
http://nmmstream.net:8080/ramgen/hrc/marriage/midnight.rm
“One small kiss for us, one giant kiss for mankind.”
- Erin Golden, on her marriage to her partner of 25 years Eileen Counihan