I attended my first Democratic Party caucus here in Minnesota in February of 2006. Those were dark times. The GOP held power across the board on the Federal level: they had the presidency, the House, and the Senate. They likewise held all power in our Minnesota state government.
At the and of the portion of the caucus where people were invited to submit suggestions for planks to include in the Democratic Party platform, my neighbor Greg stood up. He said, "I'm astonished that no one in this group has yet put this suggestion forward, and so I'd like to submit it now: support of same-sex marriage needs to be part of this party's platform."
At the invitation to discuss, I was first to my feet. I don't know why, because I hadn't yet figured out what I was even going to say. "I'm terribly worried that the Republicans will publicly beat us over the head with this, all through the election season, and drive us to defeat in November...", I began.
And then my voice trailed off, and I looked down at my shoes. I have no idea why I thought I'd find the answer down there. But I guess I did find it down there, because I was suddenly filled with a feeling of certainty and resolve. When I raised my head again, my voice rang with clarity and conviction.
"...but being afraid to do the right thing is what has brought this party to the dire straits it's in today! I strongly support this resolution."
I sat down again, and one by one, every person in the room murmured their agreement. There was no dissent, and the motion carried.
Those scant few years ago, few people expected to see justice and fairness for same-sex couples anytime soon. And now, it's the law of the land, and of my home state. It's what happens when millions of little people like us in that caucus room that night cast off their fear of doing the right thing, and throw their careful political calculus to the winds. What we little people must do, so also must our elected representatives in Congress do.
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