I'm ashamed of my home state right now

On Wednesday, the NY State Senate took up the issue of gay marriage and threw it unceremoniously under the wheels of a bus made from short-sighted fear and prejudice.

This is the same things we've seen happen again and again over the years. Law makers cite their own uncomfortableness with the idea of same-sex unions or the religious-fueled dislike from their constituents. Actual fairness isn't taken into account. Freedom is eschewed in exchange for centuries old dogma.

We all know that sex in general is a touchy subject in the U.S. It's the one place where our Puritanical roots show clearly. Sex among those of the same gender, well, that's still a bit much for John Q. Public to accept, it seems. And our leaders aren't doing a whole lot to change that.

There is no legal reason why men and women should not be able to marry men or women. The loudest arguments I've heard hinge on the idea that a same sex marriage is some affront to God (usually the Judeo-Christian one).

That, my friends, is the domain of The Church. If The Church (or any other religious organization) doesn't want to sanctify same sex unions, then they are well within their rights to not do so. But City Hall... that's secular territory and God (any god) has no place within those walls--especially within the public law books.

I could go on. Some time, I'm sure I will (the first hurdle for gay marriage here in DC was just jumped successfully). But for now, I leave you with the wise words of one of the NY Senators, Diane Savino, who made me proud:

I do understand and respect the religious argument against gay marriage. I understand why it's such a touchy subject. But there is (and should be) a line between secular law and faith. At least until everyone under that secular law shares the same faith. (And, really, that's just not going to happen any time soon.)