Rainbow Equality
Matt Seinberg

On Friday 26 June 2015, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled same sex marriage is now legal in all fifty states. In the 5-4 majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote,

"It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

Being a social liberal, I applaud the court for making this historic decision, and letting people live their lives however they want, with whomever they want to.

I have a long-time friend, Greg. I've known him since college. Last year he married his long-time companion, Brian.

We were quite thrilled to hear the news, and keep bugging them when they are going to have the big party they keep promising all their friends. I think they'll have to make it an anniversary party by the time they finally have it.

Greg and Brian have been together for many years. When it was finally legal for them to get married, they took the plunge. For me, it was as if they'd been married almost the whole time they were together anyway; I don't see them any differently now than before.

When Greg first told me he was gay, many years ago, my response was, "So? That doesn't change our friendship. I had a feeling anyway." When he did tell me, it was no big deal. When he met Brian and brought him over to meet us the first time, we had a great time. They are so good together; it's hard to imagine them apart.

Marcy has a cousin, Nadine, who came out last year. Nadine met her girlfriend, Emily a few months ago at a speed-dating event. They announced their engagement three months ago and had an engagement party that I wasn't able to attend.

I finally met Emily, at a family party last month. She is most adorable, the sweetest girl! They are so good together and the entire family is very happy for them.

Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie did two things this week. The first was to declare his candidacy for President; the second, to rebuke the high court decision for same-sex marriage. This is the same fellow who last year signed a bill to authorize the state to fund pensions, and then breaks the law by not funding them. Is this a fellow we want running the country? I don't think so.

Why do all the Republicans come out against the same-sex marriage ruling? Why do they say it should left to individual states, The Democrats, on the other hand, applaud decision? Is it because the GOP is stuck in the far away 20th century, while the Democrats embrace change?

I guess it's like anything else, there has to be two sides to every story, and the political parties have to take opposite sides, so each can be relevant to their constituents. Personally, I don't think most of the country cares what happened, as long as it doesn't affect them, personally.

Can you imagine the gay couple moving next door to Ma and Pa Smith, in Lincoln, Nebraska? Those corn husking, sidewalk rolling and football-loving people won't know what moved in next to them. Just wait until one of the new neighbours comes over looking for cup of sugar.

It's only in the major metropolitan areas that most people really care about major issues of the day, and this is the biggest right now. Like anything else, the furor will calm down in a few weeks. Everybody will get on with their business, until the politicians start throwing mud at each other to get the most attention they can to win the next Presidential election.

I predict the Republicans will lose because of their horse and buggy attitude toward social change and the Democrats will take advantage of that. Now any person, without fear of religion, race, color or sexual preference, can enter into the hall of matrimony and live with both the pleasure and pain of marriage.

Good luck to all the rainbow people, you're going to need it. Change can come quickly, but acceptance comes slowly.