Amid Celebration

God bless you, Governor Gregoire.

Washington State has done it. Marriage equality (a term I use because I truly feel this is now a matter of equality) has been signed into law by Governor Chris Gregoire. I confess I only started following this case a month ago, and I didn't know the name Gregoire until the past two weeks. I still don't know much about her.

I do know she's Roman Catholic.

This story heartens me. With people (a term I use loosely) like Bachmann driving children to suicide in the name of religion, we need powerful figures to say that, at the very least, it isn't bad to love whomever you love. Don't get me wrong, I love Ellen, Chris Colfer, Gaga, NPH, and everyone else who fills the mainstream mind, but they all remain part of Hollywood. No matter how famous they are, they don't have the authority of lawmakers. Representatives have the voice of the people, and so their rebuke is the rebuke of the people.

Tell someone that he or she is bad often enough and they believe it.

Gregoire gives me hope. She was put into an extremely powerful position, and she acted not on how many interpret her faith (honestly, even she may be religiously opposed. I don't know), nor on how even some in her own party disagreed with her. She acted on conscience, and that is worth more than all the votes in the world.

I am biased, of course. I am a homosexual who errs on the side of liberal, but my best friend who errs on the side of conservative agrees with me here. Every ounce of research shows improved health, improved economy, improved happiness with marriage equality. Regardless of religion, the government exists to aid the people, and all this can do is aid. 


I am unable to share my joy publicly without fear of being found out. I can't contact Gregoire because her contact form requires an address, and I prefer to stay as safe as possible. I can speak safely here, behind my mask. And so I do:

Thank you, Governor Gregoire. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you Ed Murray, who sponsored the bill. Thank you for the lives saved and the families affirmed. Thank you for hope. Thank you for providing another gleam at the end of the tunnel for a scared little boy who doesn't know what he can dare to hope for anymore.

Thank you.