Signs of Spring and a Social Movement

Signs of spring, no matter how harsh and long the winters,have been easier to spot in recent years than have been any signs of progresson certain social movements. The first sighting of a robin, or ice melting on alake, or the emergence of tulips, are all hopeful signs of moving forward intoa new season. Aside from an occasional victory, however, the gay rightsmovement has felt more like the chilly days of autumn than the warming days ofspring.

The passage of Proposition 8 in California which eliminatedsame-sex marriage, legislation that restricts adoption for gays and lesbians insome states, and the still failed military policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" –to cite just a few examples – have kept the gay rights movement (to borrow aphrase from Hubert Humphrey) from walking "into the bright sunshine of humanrights."

But what a difference a few weeks make.

First, the Iowa Supreme Court – that's right, Iowa– ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. Gays and lesbians in San Francisco and New Yorkwon't be getting married legally this summer, but they will be doing so in Des Moines – the very center of the nation's heartland.

Then the Vermont Legislature – not the courts – legalized gaymarriage in the state that led the country with civil unions a few years ago.

And right before Easter it was announced that the Obamaadministration had intentionally invited lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderedfamilies to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. LGBT families may haveattended the annual event in the past, but this year the President's staff wasintentional about inviting gay families, including a family from Minneapolis– Tim Meyer, Mark Funk and their three sons. (Full disclosure: I know Tim andMark and their sons. Minnesotacould not have had better representation at the White House than this family.)

A few weeks from now our excitement about spring willalready have started to fade. We will pay less attention to new growth in theground and on trees. We will stop commenting on how much more daylight we have.Spring will start to turn into summer and things will...well, things will just benormal.