  Gay Marriage in Washington State   It’s Monday, February 13,
2012, and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is signing into law
“gay marriage.” What this essentially means is that, barring
delays, starting on June 7 in the state of Washington, men will
be able to marry men and women will be able to marry women, with
all the civic and financial—not to say, moral—recognition that
that status confers. In a very real way, the term “gay marriage”
is misleading: It’s “marriage,” period.  I have mixed feelings
today. I feel proud for my state that this is happening. (The
feeling will ebb and then swell if we’re forced to hold but then
we pass a gratuitous and damaging referendum to affirm it—as if
it’s a good idea to vote on civil rights—but that’s down the
road a bit.) On the other hand, I feel bad that this is even
necessary.  Why in the world should we have to go to such great
lengths over such a long period of time to say that it’s okay
for people to marry others of the same sex? It’s like racism: It
doesn’t mak