I cried a tear of joy this weekend as New York became the sixth U.S. state to offer its gay and lesbian citizens marriage equality. When Massachusetts made marriage equality the law of its land in 2004, it was historic. When Iowa did it in 2009, it was a shocker. Iowa? Really? But, when New York did it this past weekend - I predict it will be remembered as the tipping point.
"The more that other states recognize the fairness and the importance of passing equal marriage rights, the more likely it is to pass here," said Patrick Wojahn, the chairman of the board of the Equality Maryland Foundation, which fought this year's marriage battle in Annapolis. "It's a matter of it becoming a normal thing. People see it and realize the sky isn't about to fall." Thousands marched in the streets to celebrate passage of the law, signed quickly by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the annual gay pride celebration fell on the same weekend. The first marriages are expected within 30 days.
While gays and lesbians and their allies partied, though, some on the religious right are beginning to see the writing on the wall. Several months ago, Focus on the Family president Jim Daly, conceded "we're losing that one" when asked about marriage equality. Even Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Rev. Albert Mohler, Jr. called Evangelicals to repent of their homophobia earlier this month.
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Complete article at Religion Dispatches : http://bit.ly/jkUQ4d
