Yesterday, on the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. The Board of Education, the first gay marriages were performed in Massachusetts. Even though 11 state law-makers sought to prevent them by going to the Supreme Court and seeking a ruling that the State Judicial Court was out of its jurisdiction for deciding that the state must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting May 17th. Apparently the voters of Massachusetts will get to have their say in 2006, but I hope by then some of the more reactionary protestors (particularly the ones bused in from other states) will have a new 'cause' and will stay home. Or, better yet, the movement to amend the constitution will die when it comes up again in congress next year. Brown vs. The Board of Education would have failed in a popular vote (white mothers were stoning black children at the time) and I have to wonder if May 17th was chosen deliberately by the Court just so people could make the comparison. If so I stand in awe of the mind, or minds, that came up with it.
Congratulations to all the new same-sex married couples in the state (and to those that came from elsewhere just to be married).
I'd also like to extend my congratulations to the people of Rhode Island, they have decided to recognize the same-sex marriages from Massachusetts. Last I heard New York was considering doing so as well, I hope they do. And to the people of Connecticut... well, I'll be charitable and say your government decided not to recognize the marriages and didn't give you a choice.