I left work from my office in downtown DC (where loving same-sex couples can get married) at about 2:30 this morning. It was a bitter sweet night. Although Tom Barrett did not prevail over Scott Walker, the Democrats did retain control of the Wisconsin Senate, and I sent out the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's press statement congratulating the new Democratic majority before hailing a cab and making the 15 ride back home to Virginia. I was pretty exhausted when I got home, and grateful to crawl into bed and cuddle up next to my partner to fall asleep.
This morning my partner kissed me good-bye when he got up to leave at 4:30 in the morning. Our paths barely crossed, although he did leave me a sweet note and packed me a lunch for the train ride up to Rhode Island. We love each other very much, even if our relationship is blind in the eyes of the state where we call home.
I caught the train in Alexandria and started to head north. Even though the debate around marriage equality often leads to hyperbole and discussion that natural disasters can be directly linked to allowing loving same-sex couples to marry--I observed from my train window that states that do and do not grant equal rights to gay and lesbian couples look strangely familiar as the ones that do not.
In Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is bravely fighting for equal rights for LGBT couples, but even with the impending doom people got off the train at the Baltimore Airport--as if the likely arrival of equal rights is not going to impact their daily lives in one way or another.
Starting this year Delaware allowed for same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. I was mostly reading through Delaware--the sun shone through my window the same as it did in Maryland.
The to New Jersey, where Governor Christie vetoed legislation granting equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. I must admit--New Jersey is still in New York's shadow--both in its skyline and in its politics.
The stop in New York was quick. Our train changed conductors--although I doubt they were worried about the impending homosexual agenda. I am sure somewhere in New York this weekend a gay and lesbian couple is getting married.
At some point we crossed into Connecticut. I really don't remember because I was taking a brief nap. There were clouds on the horizon--but they quickly cleared. Students got on the train--completely unaware that God was standing in judgement of their state. The quaint churches still stood strong--as they have for hundreds of years. Apparently they are unaware that allowing all people to express their love is a war on them.
And soon I will arrive in Rhode Island--where the governor is doing everything in his power to recognize loving gay and lesbian couples.
Over the next year my right to marry will be debated at the Supreme Court--as if the love that I have for my partner, or the fact he makes me lunch before a long trip, would be any different.
And in the next several days we will discuss how progressives can prevail at the ballot box in November, but now I am enjoying some M and M's that he packed from his secret stash with the note "that is love."
But as I moved through these states how these states saw me changed. I am still an American--but my rights ebb and flow along the railway lines.
Some day soon that will change. The train is moving to a better tomorrow.
