Wow. Let’s all just take a breather …
And go.
On May 20, 2014, Pennsylvania became the 19th state to adopt marriage equality. One year ago, did anyone think this was possible? One month ago? Even last week?
Even on Tuesday, as the flags were unfurled, the champagne bottles popped and the speeches rang out from City Hall, there was an air of foreboding as the community wondered if this was for real. Well, after our Republican governor came down on the right side of history the following day — just moments before this editorial was written — it became pretty real.
In any momentous tragedy or triumph, you hear about how things “feel different” when they happen to you. For any Pennsylvanian invested in the marriage-equality issue, this could not ring more true.
On Tuesday, PGN staffers were glued to our federal court account, hitting refresh, refresh, refresh. When our staff writer yelled out that Twitter was carrying that a judge had overturned Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage, our collective hearts, already racing in anticipation, took off. Within moments, chaos ensued — as we quickly scanned the Whitewood opinion for the key words we were hoping for, saw Facebook post after Facebook post of rainbows and heard our publisher proclaim victory over the PA system.
As the day went on, the feeling of real joy permeated well beyond our office. As we made calls, the people on the other end all had a celebratory comment as soon as they answered. Within the blocks around City Hall, people seemed to be walking to the marriage-equality rally, truly lighter. As the rainbow flag slowly made its way up the flag pole outside the building, the cheers gradually became louder and louder, the excitement palpable. As the speeches began, most of the crowd couldn’t even hear what was being proclaimed, but that didn’t mute their excitement; everyone standing in front of City Hall seemed satisfied to simply look around and share in the moment with their fellow community members and allies.
And on Wednesday, when Gov. Corbett made it official, Pennsylvania entered a new era. Corbett didn’t give marriage equality a ringing endorsement in his statement — far from it — but that’s OK. He acknowledged that an appeal wasn’t likely to succeed. That speaks volumes to where this issue has come from one year ago, one month ago, even one week ago.
Pennsylvania is the last state in the Northeast to sanction marriage equality — and that’s OK too. We’re there. We need to get there with nondiscrimination. And we need to get there with a boatload of other issues. But on this issue, on this day, we’re there. And it feels amazing.