Before Iowa and Maine there was Michael and Ben.

This is the SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL SAME-SEX WEDDING I've ever witnessed.  At the end of the next episode, everyone safe and sound back in Pittsburgh, Michael and Ben are up late wondering if it was all real... if it had all been for naught.  They married in Canada, but the border brought back the harsh reality.  "The Government of the United States doesn't recognize gays gettin' married.  They'll have to fill out two separate forms."  Ben says "If it was real for just one second, was it worth it?"  Michael's answer is the answer of all gays and lesbians yearning for their Equality:   YES!  Michael says something quite powerful, that always stuck with me.  He had never dreamed of getting married, never imagined his wedding, because he had never thought it was possible, it wasn't a narrative he told himself.  Today, all of New England--except Rhode Island--is on the cusp of having Marriage Equality--couple that with Massachusetts and Iowa, possible New York soon (not to mention D.C!).  This past summer I attended THE most beautiful wedding of my life--a gay couple that are very near and dear to my heart.  Theirs was a Religious, not a civil marriage, but it was none-the-less still outstanding.  

Their narrative is very interesting, because this is the first same-sex couple I've EVER known that had the opportunity to 'wait' until marriage!  This was never even an option for me and many of my friends growing up.  Though I had a few gay friends that waited longer, they were all waiting for "love" not "marriage."  Eventually everyone gave in.  The narrative is changing, though.  Gays and Lesbians are finding they can be gay and spiritual more and more.  People are finding that as their legal rights expand and social acceptance grows, it is much easier to be gay and not change much else about what you are about.  Ten years ago, coming out as gay meant drastic, earth shattering changes to your life.  You feel into a completely new category of human being (if even human).  If you didn't lose your job or your friends or your family, you were lucky, and you probably experienced some repercussions anyway. 

But all of that is changing, and changing so fast!  I'm so blessed to be seeing all of this!  Five years ago, I was predicting we'd get legal recognition, but that it would take 25+ years.  Nate Silver has proven me statistically wrong, saying that by 2020, its going to be ubiquitous in this country.  This crush of Marriage Equality votes around the nation has lifted my heart, and given me so much hope!  What if we ARE past the tipping point?  Even NPR is reporting that now for the first time, more Americans are FOR gay marriage than AGAINST it--however its all those people in the middle we have to try to fight for!  What if this begins influencing all of the states?  What if soon states can't wait to pass Equal rights, and there's a scramble to not be the last bigoted state standing?  What if we reach a critical mass of states and the Supreme Court strikes it down en total, like in Canada or South Africa?  I'm so excited about the possibilities!

I look forward to the future when gay kids can EXPECT to get married some day, just like straight kids.  I'm so happy that the narrative is changing!