Another win for marriage equality in New England. Well, it isn't exactly civil marriage, but it is a form of "spousal union" which gives all "the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations as married couples". The term "spousal union" strikes me as a breakthrough - a euphemism that isn't really a euphemism. The bill uses both terms "spousal union" and civil union." Notice how this happened: by legislative action alone, in a conservative state, as a pragmatic measure, with humane and conservative intent. This is the path the national GOP chose not to take. History will not remember them kindly for it. It also seems to me that New England's regional support for gay couples makes a reversal of the Massachusetts breakthrough even less likely than it was before. Now: California. The legislature has passed a civil marriage law. Why is a Republican governor now deferring to the state court?