Gay Marriage Snowballing

This is all so weird. Last year, when the right to same-sex marriage was granted by the California Supreme Court, it was something of an anomaly. The only state to that point to legalize such marriages was Massachusetts. The Other Half and I decided to strike while the iron was hot, and got married in Palm Springs in June. We figured, better do it before they took the chance away.

Since then, California voted to overturn the decision, throwing the validity of our marriage into dispute. A decision by the California Supremes is still forthcoming. But in the mean time, same-sex marriage has become legal in Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. Progress has been made in New Hampshire, Maine and New York. Washington D.C. has decided to allow marriages performed in states where it has been made legal. Hate crimes legislation is on its way to being expanded to cover gay people. There is a virtual tidal wave of change as it pertains to gay rights. It's all a little overwhelming. And California has still not come to a decision.

After all that has happened since, California's outcome may come as a bit of an anti-climax. Here's just a few of the most current developments. . .

[Excerpt]

Strange Bedfellows

. . .The cause of same-sex marriage has made big strides in recent weeks.

The Iowa Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage in the Hawkeye State. The Vermont Legislature not only approved same-sex marriage, but overrode a gubernatorial veto.
The New Hampshire Legislature has just voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

In 2004, by contrast, 21 states passed initiative or referendum measures defining marriage as between a man and a woman. . .

Read more at: Seattlepi.com

[Excerpt]

Maine Senate Backs Gay-Marriage Bill

The Maine Senate gave two nods of approval to a bill to legalize gay marriage after extended and emotional debate Thursday.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration next week, and then back to the Senate for a third, and perhaps final, vote. . .

Read more at: Wall Street Journal

[Excerpt]

Gay marriage bill passes in N.H. Senate

The New Hampshire Senate voted yesterday to allow same-sex couples to marry, setting the state in motion to become the fifth in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. . .

Read more at: Boston.com