There will be a time when it is legal in all 50 states, and it will be such a part of our societal fabric that people will look back at this fight for rights with amazement and disdain that such a violation of human rights continued for so long in America.
PopMatters writer Michael Abernathy • In a column for Alternet, where he builds up a defense for gay marriage, stating that the right will come over time and become such a part of our societal fabric that future generations will be in disbelief that it was even an issue. (We agree, honestly.) • source
Clearly, attitudes about gay people have changed in New England. I mean, they must have, right? Or was the region always more accepting in general despite my personal experiences?
PlanetOut columnist Carter Todd • Discussing what, to him, is a bizarre evolution of the gay marriage debate. Todd grew up in New England and did not believe the region to be particularly gay-friendly nor particularly open about its sexuality, and in fact found Boston to be not gay-friendly at all. So he raised the question to his readers: Why New England? • source
I was out of work for eight weeks, spent a week in the hospital. That was the first time I really felt thankful for the sense of the security we had, with Rich there, talking with the physicians, helping make decisions. … It really made a difference.
Gary Chalmers • On how, during a bout with pneumonia, being married to his partner, Richard Linnell, significantly helped him. Chalmers and Linnell were amongst the first married gay couples in Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage in 2004 via court decision. Despite continued vocal opposition from conservative and church groups, gay marriage has strong political support and the debate has faded into the background. Now, other states have recently legalized it. • source
All those ideas of creating extra revenues, I’m always for an open debate on it. We ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana. What effect did it have on those countries? Are they happy with the decision?
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger • On the possibility of legalizing pot. He goes on to note that his native Austria did not have a good experience with legalization. By the way, most people think pot should be legal as a way to raise state revenue. • source
It is the biggest moment yet. There’s a sense that the notion of legalizing marijuana is starting to cross the fringes into mainstream debate.
Ethan Nadelmann • Founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Nadelmann notes that there’s growing mainstream support of pot legalization. Annoying loudmouths on different sides of the political spectrum Glenn Beck and Jack Cafferty both support legalization. It’s high times for High Times, apparently, who will be holding a beauty pageant tomorrow. • source