Let's Do This Thing

I know I owe this space a photo-heavy post on Halloween and fall activities (leaf pile jumping! The kids did it! I have photos!). But I need to pause for a moment, on the eve before the election, to make a plea that comes from my heart.

Tomorrow, Maryland becomes one of 36 states to offer a public vote on legalizing gay marriage.

Three other states have a similar vote on their own ballots.

The other 32? The ones that already held their votes? Every. single. one. voted to reject the legality of gay marriage. Every. single. one. decided that marriage is something only to be allowed between a man and a woman. Every. single. one. reinforced inequality, a separate degree of citizenship, the idea that some people are "less than," that they somehow don't deserve the same rights everyone else does, just because of who they love.

One day, I really do believe, this will all be in the past. Our grandkids will read about how lesbian and gay couples achieved the right to marry the same way we read now about how women achieved the right to vote (FINALLY, FOR THE LOVE OF...) in 1920. In history class, in social studies class, in that "look how far we've come" kind of lesson, of which we've had so many in the course of our country's history. We are moving that way, it is coming, it won't be stopped.

It is never wrong to be more inclusive. To give more social rights. To bring equality to a group that doesn't have it. To promote family, even if it's not what YOUR family looks like.

Because that's really what this is about. Giving people the chance to have a legally recognized family.

There may not be a right or wrong answer when it comes to who you vote for President, but there is a right answer here. We need to do what no other state has done yet, and that's pass Question 6.

Let's do it.