The State of the Gay Union

So I thought it would be interesting to note that 1/5 of US States now recognize gay marriage, civil unions, or some form of domestic partnership.

Gay Marriage
-California(6-17-08)
-Massachusetts

Civil Unions
-New Jersey
-Connecticut
-Vermont
-New Hampshire

Domestic Partnerships
-Washington
-Maine
-Hawaii
-Oregon
-California until marriage ruling takes effect
-District of Columbia

Issues of marriage equality will soon be debated or are currently being debated in either the court or legislature of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, and Iowa.

Issues of civil union recognition is being debated in New Mexico.

Tennessee is doing nothing, they've already banned it.

-Zak

As California Goes so Goes the Nation

Has struck down the ban on gay marriage! Now what you may ask is what does this have to do with Tennessee? Everything. Unlike Massachusetts, California has no residency requirements, so a Tennessee gay couple can go to California, get married, come back to Tennessee, and challenge the states Constitutional Amendment that bans gay marriage. Do I think this will happen immediately...not really...but it could.

What does this mean immediately for Americans? This is the 2nd state to legalize gay marriage. This could soon be followed by New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, even New York. If New York was to legalize gay marriage, as the legislature is trying to do in that state, then a large chunk of the US population would have then legalized gay marriage, and we will eventually have to settle the question for not just New York and California, but for Tennessee and Utah as well.

As a leftist liberal, I'm a bit concerned about the backlash, but I'm in wait and see mode. Here's to hope!

-Zak