Big Day in New Hampshire

It gives me enormous pleasure to put the gay pride flag over this post. The expansion of gay marriage rights--really the expansion of gay rights in general--is one of the most inspiring trends in American life over the last 25 years. Why last 25 years! My own thinking is that the movement for gay marriage grew out of the surge in gay rights activism in the early 1980's around the AIDS epidemic. I was working as a cook and bus boy in a gay bar in Philadelphia as AIDS was really taking hold, have made many gay friends and acquaintances since then, and have always felt a great deal of happiness for them as the cause of gay marriage has moved forward.

Yesterday, the cause moved forward again as New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a bill legalizing gay marriage in New Hampshire. That makes six states that now recognize gay marriage rights with more states like New York likely to come in the near future. It's probably too much to hope for at this point, but I'd really like to see the federal government rescind the pernicious Defense of Marriage Act from the Clinton years.

Anyway, congratulations to everyone who supports gay rights. It was another good day.