History in Indiana

Wow. I'm almost speechless. Almost.

Today, Indiana started to allow same-sex marriage. But, sadly, this wasn't by choice. Apparently, the quickest way to make same-sex marriage legal is to try to constitutionally ban it in your state. Then it gets ruled by the federal government as 'unconstitutional' and you have to then allow it. That's how Indiana got there, at least.

But I have to say I was quite happy to see all the local county clerks jump on board with actually issuing marriage licenses as soon as the ruling came across the wire. And even conducting ceremonies. They didn't hide behind the state government, that was quick to say it was going to appeal. They just started doing what was right all along. It surprised me, honestly, to see them so quickly jump on board with that - so much of Indiana has a habit of hiding behind the state government when it comes to stuff like this. I know in Marion County (which is where Indianapolis is), the clerk even pledge to stay open late to accommodate the line that was out the door for marriage licenses. Good for her!

Hard to believe that Indiana is still just part of a handful of states that it is allowed in (for the moment), still... you would think that after the umpteenth time the federal courts overruled a state ban that all the other states would just allow it at this point. And just let 'same-sex marriage' become 'marriage' everywhere - no need to distinguish it differently.

So thank you, Indiana, for not embarrassing me with your politics, for once. Not to say you won't again sometime soon, possibly even on this subject still. But for the moment, thank you.