PeaceBang

Tension and Fear Give Way To Elation: Marriage Equality

It was so tense waiting in the chambers for the votes to come in.
I was thinking about how devastating it would be to have to walk away from this knowing that thousands of families would be thrown into emotional and legal chaos if the process went forward to a popular vote. I thought about how drastic a measure it is to actually amend the constitution to exclude gay people from being able to get married. I felt sick. I was so angry and disgusted by the opponents on the other half of the room, and then angry with myself for feeling so incredibly hostile.

I thought about Biblical values, about the fact that a “biblical” marriage in the Old Testament sense often meant polygamy, and how God calls us into covenants with each other and God that make our lives a sacred story rather than a series of random events leading to the grave. I tried to remember if Jesus ever gave any teachings about marriage other than against divorce, and I prayed “Those whom God hath joined, let no man put asunder.” I tried to remember all the other purity laws from Leviticus (other than that thing about it being an abomination for a man to lie down with another man) that all the self-righeous people across the room had violated, and how Jesus himself adamantly challenged and violated all kinds of purity laws set down in Leviticus and other books of the Hebrew Scriptures. I fumed and chewed my nails.

We all watched this screen:

We cheered for the legislators who changed their votes, and groaned, hissed and even boo’d the ones who said they would, but betrayed our cause in the end.

When it happened, it was so fast and so amazing. Joyful mayhem!

I only learned today, while eating a sandwich at Panera Bread, that my own Representative, Robert Nyman, did change his vote. I sat and cried on my sandwich, knowing that members of my own congregation had undoubtedly helped him become one of the nine Massachusetts legislators who changed their mind about the constititutional amendment. I know for a fact that one of my members had a long meeting with him on Wednesday. And I am gratified to think that one of my several letters and calls may have done some real good.

We chanted, “Thank you! Thank you!” and
after cheering our legislators I chatted with a lovely woman from a nearby town who would like to visit our church. She was one of the many people who stopped in the halls of the State House or on the streets to share the joy that day.

It was cool to see some of our senators and reps up on the balcony. I’ve never seen that before. I think they must have known they were making history and didn’t want to miss it.

This little guy didn’t know what all the fuss was about.