A reader writes:

I'm a straight man, and my wife and I were disgusted with the claims of marriage equality opponents that gay marriage is a threat to the integrity of the institution. Now is the time for fair-minded people to stand up in Tennessee, whose state legislature is now entirely controlled by Republicans, as the anti-Obama vote was coordinated with a mobilization of Christianists, who turned just enough seats to control the state house.

One of their stated goals is to reverse the basic gains gays and lesbians have made in their rights to adopt. I hope the 300 or so protesters, who were joyous in discovering their ability to mobilize so quickly, will represent the beginning of what will be a tough fight: progressive Nashville is not the rest of the state, and we represented a fraction of the average Sunday at one of the right-wing megachurches.

But for today, optimism and a start.