It's been a pretty damn good past few days for marriage equality.
In Iowa, we have a unanimous recognition by the state Supreme court, accompanied by an opinion that complete thrashes the "reasoning" used to opposed same-sex marriage.
In Vermont, we have a governor whose veto is over-ridden by the legislature.
We have won in the courts. We have won in the legislature. We are winning this battle. And I wanted to share a couple of things that have come out of Iowa in the past few days that show, to me, just how profound and moving and inevitable this victory is, that show me how clearly the tide has changed and is not, will not change back.
First, the words of Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D). This is a speech I have longed to hear for such a long time. Am I dreaming to hope these words will fall someday from the lips of a president?
Transcript:
One of my daughters was in the workplace one day, and her particular workplace at that moment in time, there were a whole bunch of conservative, older men. And those guys were talking about gay marriage. They were talking about discussions going on across the country. And my daughter Kate, after listening for about 20 minutes, said to them: 'You guys don't understand. You've already lost. My generation doesn't care.' I think I learned something from my daughter that day, when she said that. And Ive talked with other people about it and that's what I see, Senator McKinley. I see a bunch of people that merely want to profess their love for each other, and want state law to recognize that. Is that so wrong? I don't think that's so wrong. As a matter of fact, last Friday night, I hugged my wife. You know I've been married for 37 years. I hugged my wife. I felt like our love was just a little more meaningful last Friday night because thousands of other Iowa citizens could hug each other and have the state recognize their love for each other. No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.
I've never understood the claim that straight marriage is threatened by gay marriage; what is so moving to me is how many straight men and women of conscience are now saying just the opposite: that their marriage is diminished because their gay brothers and sisters cannot marry, or, in this case, that gay marriage has made their marriage feel more right, more special, more real.
From the court's decision:
The statute, the court found, is under-inclusive because it does not exclude from marriage other groups of parents—such as child abusers, sexual predators, parents neglecting to provide child support, and violent felons—that are undeniably less than optimal parents. If the marriage statute was truly focused on optimal parenting, many lassifications of people would be excluded, not merely gay and lesbian people. The statute is also under-inclusive because it does not prohibit same-sex couples from raising children in Iowa. The statute is over-inclusive because not all same-sex couples choose to raise children. The court further noted that the County failed to show how the best interests of children of gay and lesbian parents, who are denied an environment supported by the benefits of marriage under the statute, are served by the ban, or how the ban benefits the interests of children of heterosexual parents. Thus, the court concluded a classification that limits civil marriage to opposite-sex couples is simply not substantially related to the objective of promoting the optimal environment to raise children.
And there we have it, in plain English (or as plain as the English in legal decisions ever is). This justification we hear so often that somehow this is for children or families? Rubbish. Making gay marriage illegal is "simply not substantially related to the objective of promoting the optimal environment to raise children."
The tide is turning. We have the younger generation on our side, and they are educating the older generation. We have a growing body of legal opinions the tear the heart from the weak justifications used as disguises for the bigotry that opposes marriage equality.
It's been a pretty damn good past few days for gay marriage. Here's to making sure we make it an even better year.
UPDATE:
The Washington D.C. City Council voted unanimously to recognize gay marriages from out of state. Not quite a victory on the same level as Iowa and Vermont, but the good news really does just keep on pouring in!