Court, country have moved fast, far on gay marriage

THUMBS UP: Friday’s Supreme Court decision making it legal for same sex couples to marry in all 50 states is a landmark decision. The court, and the country, have moved quickly over the past 50 years from legalized criminalization of homosexuality to acceptance today of the right of homosexuals to live with all the rights of heterosexuals in society.

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn riots broke out in New York’s Greenwich Village, after yet another police raid on a gay bar. Gays decided they weren’t going to stand for it anymore and demonstrated in violent clashes with police for their right to assemble openly as homosexuals without fear of arrest. It is considered the start of the gay rights movement that culminated with Friday’s Supreme Court decision.

Even 10 years ago, only 37 percent of Americans agreed with the idea of gay marriage, according to the Gallup Poll. That percentage has inched up over the years, breaking 50 percent in 2012, and reaching 60 percent this year.

There is no doubt this ruling will not sit well with many. We have years of challenges to be sorted out as religious freedom questions bump up against this new constitutional right. But the civil rights of LGBT?citizens have taken a big step forward.

Packed weekend

THUMBS UP: Everyone loves a lazy summer weekend when there’s not much to do but listen to the grass grow. This weekend, however, is not one of those. A wide variety of events and activities is going on, from the third bi-annual Quiltistry event, to the Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Summer Party, to Autofest, to Friendship Days in Nicollet. For sports fans, the 2015 Junior Upper Midwest Classic basaeball tournament is going on at Johnson Park, Mueller Park and Essig.

The Western Wishes Fundraiser is going on at the KaBoy Up Arena just outside of town for aspiring cowboys. The New Ulm Park and Rec and State Street Theater Co. have a summer musical theatre production going on.

This is the kind of weekend that makes you glad when Monday comes around and you can relax and go to work.