The first American Revolution began with the shot heard 'round the world on Lexington Green. Another American revolution began with a court decision heard 'round the world in a Boston courtroom.
10 years ago this weekend same sex couples began marrying legally in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Joining the rest of us poor saps in wedded bliss. Real marriage. Legal marriage. With all the rights and responsibilities that entails.
Marriage equality.
We all held our breath, as those in 1775 must have. Now what? Even some gay rights supporters worried that marriage was too much. A backlash was expected, and struck with a fury. For a time Massachusetts was an island of freedom in a sea of intolerance.
I was at a couple of the early ceremonies, friends and fellow travellers at our local Unitarian Universalist Church outside Boston. Together for years. Loving couples no different than my wife and I. I remember a 10 years old boy's excitement that his moms were getting married, how happy he was to be in the ceremony.
A tense, emotional battle over a state anti-equality constitutional amendment failed, Mitt Romney left town and was replaced by equality supporter Deval Patrick, the battle for equality moved on to other states. Life in Massachusetts went back to normal, for all couples.
I have met more same sex married couples through the years. We've all gone through the usual ups and downs in life. Damned if I can tell the difference between my marriage and theirs.
A dear friend of ours died a couple years ago, leaving his grieving husband behind. He still grieves, but at least he was able to go through the trauma of disease and death as a married man. No legal issues or complications to deal with. Sadly, just another spouse, no different than any other spouse suffering the same fate.
That was when the importance of marriage really hit home for me. The humanity of marriage, of having your relationship recognized and accepted in the community and the law.
The fight continues, the cause endures, the dream is so much closure than 10 years ago. Not close enough, but so much closer.
So, on this beautiful Spring day, Happy 10th Anniversary to marriage equality.