Legalizing Gay Marriage

If you're in the gay community or are a friend of the gays, this is the biggest news of the year so far (or maybe the decade). The California State Supreme Court has ruled gay marriage is legal in the state. Even if you're not in California, this will impact you sooner than you think. California's supreme court is the nation's most influential and respected state supreme court, which means other states could soon follow.

Not only will gay marriages - not civil unions, not domestic partnerships, but marriage - be seen as early as June in California, but the court also made a decision regarding the status of gay individuals. The ruling lifts homosexuals into the same class of minority as race by adding sexual orientation to the 'equal protection' clause. In other words, the state would need very compelling reason to discriminate based on sexual orientation. And by "very compelling," we mean it's nearly impossible.

What's more? California has no residency requirements to obtain a marriage license (Massachusetts does). So anyone can just show up and get married!