Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Or vice versa. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

I got home from work (T minus 2 days and counting), turned on the Orange Bowl, and checked my e-mail. Then, I decided to buzz by cnn.com.


On the main page was Ex-Joint Chiefs chairman: Military ready for gays. The story detailed a New York Times opinion piece by Gen. John Shalikashvili stating that he no longer opposes allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. He's not the first former military person to say this, but he is one of the most well known and highest ranking. Unfortunately, he also admitted that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to push it early in the new Congress.

I then checked the Politics page, and found Massachusetts same-sex marriage ban advances. For those of you haven't followed this, a brief review:

Nov. 2003 - Supreme Court of Massachusetts rules that preventing gay couples from marrying is unconstitutional and demands a legislative remedy.
Feb. 2004 - Supreme Court clarifies that they mean MARRIAGE, not civil unions
May 2004 - Legal and recognized gay marriages begin in Massachusetts
March 2006 - Supreme Court rules non-resident gays cannot be married, based on an arcane law from 1913
December 2006 - Supreme Court rules that it does not have the authority to force the legislature to act on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage (but does it's best to shame them into doing it)



Apparently the Court succeeded, because the Massachusetts legislature voted on the measure today. Since 62 legislators endorsed the measure (though 134 opposed it), it will be continued and voted on again next year. Honestly, I haven't caught up on all the legalities of this yet, but the amendment ain't dead yet.

In reality, these were both probably symbolic events -- nobody gained or lost rights today. Even the MA amendment would have to go through the legislature and a state ballot to pass. But it would be nice to see everything pointing in the same direction at some point. And I still don't understand why the same people who want to export freedom to other coutries tend to stand up for discrimination here.