A Good, Gay Day
Jul 24, 2011 @ 9:27 PM
As His Boehnerness so wisely declared in Friday’s video post, “Sometimes it’s good to back away from the tree and take a look at the forest.” For once, I’m going to take his advice.
I’ve ranted and raved a fair amount these past few weeks about budget deficits, jorts, generational malaise and forceps deliveries, but let it be written that I remain an optimist at heart. Today, in the midst of a lot of terrible world news, a record-breaking 659 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in New York State. For these couples, gay people everywhere (including myself) and indeed the entire country, this is a civil rights triumph of epic proportions. Slowly but surely America is beginning to figure out that, even though we dress better and tend to be much more attractive, gays are just like everybody else. We breathe the same air and pay the same taxes, and at the end of the day all we want is to be treated like human beings. This most recent milestone in the modern LGBT rights movement represents a huge step toward that ultimate goal, and I applaud all of the lawmakers, volunteers and ordinary citizens whose hard work and courage of conviction made it possible for many of us to say “I do.”
I’ve gathered some photos of same-sex couples exercising their new right to marriage equality and displayed them below. As we look at the pure, unadulterated joy written all over these faces, let’s remember that good things still do happen everywhere, all the time. And even though the tree might sometimes be leafless, on fire and buried under a mountain of debt, the forest continues to endure, or whatever. In any case, may the newlyweds enjoy a lifetime of health, happiness and David Barton Gym memberships. Bravo, New York!
The following images courtesy of CBSNews.com (click to enlarge):
Anniemal
<3
Anniemal
(that was a heart btw)
Damon
Anniemal, you are my fave.
Jen
so important to recognize the positives; coworker Amanda and I were just talking about how depressing the news can be–and we don’t even get all the big blows from international events half the time! Violent crimes rates continue to go down, but the local news is filled with murders, kidnappers, and the rest. Here’s hoping sensationalism loses its appeal so we can get what we need to know, which includes the good with the bad, to get a little more light shining in our midst (as well as to recover the balance of scales so we adequately react when something really is terrible and requires attention/action).
Ever wonder what it is about our human nature that is naturally more curious/attracted to the horrific/grotesque than the celebratory/joyful?
Damon
Well said Jenny C. And, yes, I wonder that all the time…