The Morning After

So, we've got some victories and some losses on our hands...but a huge congratulations to Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the First female Speaker of the House thanks to the Democrats' big wins in Congress last night. A great thing to celebrate, yet also a stark reminder that women have a long way to go in establishing a presence in U.S. politics.
Sadly, ballot measures to ban same-sex marriage passed in several states (Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin), which means our work is cut out for us. Why is gay marriage a feminist issue? Feminism promotes the rights of all women—lesbian, heterosexual, mothers, daughters, transgendered people, bisexual—and banning gay marriage denies women with same-sex partners the rights that we give (without a second though, I might add) to women with opposite sex partners. Where's the logic? Further, domestic partnership might be a first step (thanks, New Jersey) but separate but equal is NOT EQUAL.
More victories: Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
...and a few losses for women everywhere: Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and the fact that George Bush is, unfortunately, still president.

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