Number 18

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Christmas has come early for Utah's gay couples.

ABC News Article
Washington Post Article
Text of the Relevant Decision
Wikipedia

I expected the state where I grew up to be among the very last to accept gay marriage. Apparently, opinion polls have shown it to have the lowest support for gay marriage in the nation. The majority of the population belong to a church that vigorously opposes the recognition of gay marriages. The state was a pioneer in passing legislation not to recognize gay marriages performed in other states, and in adding constitutional amendments defining marriage as a hetero-sexual affair. I would have preferred the change to come through the legislature, on the model of Vermont, New York, Illinois, etc., both because it would be less open to future reversion, and because it would paint a more encouraging picture of the state's people. On the other hand, even as a case of judicial activism, it's still very good news for those Utah gay couples who have finally been able to achieve the legal rights and recognition of marriage, or have them recognized by the state. This may be turned over on appeal, but it sounds like those marriages that are taking place will likely continue to be recognized regardless, which means the state will have to sort out tax law and so forth for gay families, so those issues will already have been dealt with when the issue comes back around. Reversion would also create a particularly awkward double-standard of "sure, that gay couple got married in Utah, but you can't." One way or another, it looks like Pandora's box is open for this state.

So now the question, which state will manage to hold out the longest, and finally take home that coveted most-homophobic-state trophy to display in their capital building? Will the supreme court step in and force multiple states to share the honor, like with inter-racial marriage? Which southern state will be the first to break? Or, will they all hold out until they're dragged into the present by the rest of the country? How soon will gay marriage be something everyone takes for granted, looking back on us and wondering how this could ever be an issue?