Happy wedding day!
I have to confess: I am surprised that Washington DC jumped this hurdle and is now permitting same-sex unions! I mean, DC may not be as stodgy and conservative as people initially think...but I certainly thought states on the Left Coast would legalize same-sex unions before DC would! Instead, The District becomes the sixth place in this country, behind Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, to legalize gay marriage.
So after the mandatory four day waiting period, today is the first day couples can pick up those licenses and put them to good use. Many weddings are planned around town for today. Who can blame them? I wouldn't want to wait a single second longer either! Nine years ago, The Husband and I purposefully chose to have a short engagement, because as Harry Burns famously said, "... when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
Gay couples may have already made that decision. Maybe they've already had commitment ceremonies, live together and are raising kids together...but today is the FIRST DAY their decision to be united will be recognized legally. There's something to be said about that. *applause applause*
I am hopeful the rest of the country will follow DC and the six other states in legalizing gay marriages soon. Someday, I want my kids to be shocked into disbelief as I tell them how once upon a time, same-sex unions weren't legal across this country. I want them to know how proud their mom was as she witnessed the legalization of gay marriage in her beloved nation's capital..though they will probably think she's just sooooo old to have observed history in the making.
Happy wedding day! Congratulations to the many couples getting married today and in the days/weeks/months ahead...and may your (legal) unions be happy and blessed forevermore.
Original DC Metro Moms post.
Michelle blogs at Wife and Mommy.
