How about a little good news?

To be filed under Not All Religious People Hate Gays…

Gay bishop says no to ultimatum: "The first openly gay Episcopal bishop, whose consecration has brought the world's Anglicans to the brink of schism, said Tuesday that the Episcopal Church should not give in to demands that it roll back its acceptance of gays. New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson said in a statement … 'Now is the time for courage, not fear'." Right on, brother. Err, father. Whatever.

To be filed under Not All States Are Trying to Fight SSM…

Hawaii Civil Union Bill Heads To Committee: "Legislation to legalize civil unions will receive its first public hearing in the Hawaii legislature on Tuesday evening. The House Judiciary Committee will hear from people on both sides of the issue. If passed the bill would grant the equal rights and responsibilities of marriage, while stopping short of being defined as marriage … [and] Hawaii would join Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey in allowing civil unions."

Gay Relationship Bill Introduced In Oregon: "Legislation that would recognize same-sex couples was introduced in the Oregon legislature on Monday. Called the Family Fairness Act it would provide many of the state rights of marriage on gay couples. Oregon has a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage and the Fairness Act carefully avoids using the terms civil unions or domestic partnerships. But many LGBT activists who pushed for the bill are calling it civil union legislation."

I know that the proposed legislation in Hawaii and Oregon is not the same as marriage; in other words, not good enough. But the point is just to remember that there is forward momentum, slow though it may be. It's easy to get discouraged, but we should celebrate even the smallest steps that bring us closer to the day when we are all truly equal under the law.

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