A News Perspective: A good week for equal rights

Last week, within four days of each other, Iowa and Vermont became the third and fourth states to legalize same-sex marriage. At the same time, new legislature in many states is making it not only probable,, but possible that more states will allow same-sex marriage in the future.

On April 3, Iowa became the third state, after Massachusetts and Connecticut, to allow same-sex marriage. According to CNN, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected a state law enacted in 1998 that limited marriage to heterosexual couples only, claiming that the law was unconstitutional.

As gay rights proponents were still celebrating Iowa's decision, news broke on April 7 that Vermont had become the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. According to the Washington Post, the two houses of Vermont's legislature voted the previous week on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which was later vetoed by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas. On April 7, the houses voted to override the veto, many of them switching sides in support of same-sex marriage.

Also on April 7, the D.C. Council voted to recognize same-sex unions from other states, according to the Washington Post. The New York Times also reported that proposals to legalize same-sex marriage have gained legislative support in New York, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire.

About five months ago, gay rights activists all over the country united after California passed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state just months after it had been legalized. On Nov. 15, I was lucky enough to march at the Proposition 8 Rally in downtown Chicago, just one of many national rallies that happened at the exact same time that day.

At the rally, there was a mixture of anger and disappointment due to California's decision, but there was also a strong sense of hope. As the crowd walked through the streets of downtown, stopping traffic and chanting until their voices gave out, it seemed like everyone knew that something was going to change. We just didn't know then how soon the change would come.

To say that last week was a good week for gay rights is an understatement. Last week awakened the hope we felt in November, and set the stage for other states to support legislature to legalize same-sex marriage.

However, not every week is going to be so progressive. For every state that has legalized same-sex marriage or may legalize it in the future, there will be a large contingency of people who will do everything in their power to stop it from happening. Although these groups may have high numbers, they do not have that same sense of hope we all felt in November or the momentum gained from last week's victories in Iowa and Vermont.

Last week proved that the fight for equal rights is alive and active in courts throughout the U.S., and that the changes we hoped for in November are definitely coming sooner or later.