Before we leap into March and prance towards springtime, let’s take stock of the rare 29-day month that was February 2012.
Whitney, a Madonna Superbowl, Mardi Gras, the return of “American Idol” and “The Voice.” Don’t forget the addition of another musical TV show, “Smash.” The Oscars, Grammys and about 2,304 other award shows made it to the airwaves.
Throw in any Adele song (What did radio ever play before we had her?) and that Kelly Clarkson car commercial that plays non-stop.
Is it safe to say February 2012 may have been the gayest month ever for the U.S.?
Probably so but not for any of the reasons already mentioned. 
In just one month, two states (Maryland, Washington) have paved the way for gay marriage to become legal. One (New Jersey) is placing it on the ballot alongside the presidential election in November and another (California) recently had its ban on gay marriage overturned.
If each of these territories jazz run towards the same-sex finish line, that will make 20 percent of the nation’s states where your uncle and his “roommate” can tie the knot. 
This doesn’t even take into account Washington D.C. or the handful of states where civil unions occur. 
It doesn’t take a fashion major to show that marriage equality is about to strut its stuff down the runway and work it like the rent is due tomorrow.
Is traditional marriage becoming queer?
Yes. And it’s about damn time, Mississippi. 
More people from both sides of the political spectrum are beginning to see marriage between two consenting adults has little effect on anyone but those involved in the nuptials.
For the first time in history, polls are starting to show a majority of Americans show favor toward our fellow Homo sapiens, with those under the age of 40 significantly supporting same-sex recognition.
Now you may want to blame this on the “Will and Grace” or “Glee” effect and say the media is glamorizing homosexuals as witty, chic and “born this way,” and you may be right.
Us writers like to generalize and use broad strokes, but perhaps Americans are starting to embrace another ideal: equality for all.
We have always been slow in deciding just who deserves equal protection, but we seem to always get to the right result. After women and African Americans, you cannot help but think homosexuals are the next to break through that color-coordinated, very fashionable ceiling.
Democrats and even some Republicans are realizing they do not want to be seen as the generation that stood idly by while a minority group was ostracized. 
As Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said to his state legislature as he presented the bill for same-sex marriage, “We are going to be successful in this legislative session by recognizing the dignity in one another, by recognizing the common humanity that all of us share… we choose to be bound together by a common thread. That common thread is human dignity.”
It’s human dignity that always wins out in the end.
My uncle and his partner have been together for almost 40 years and currently reside in Maryland. A real marriage was a pipe dream just 10 years ago, but now they are contemplating taking the plunge.
They have remained with each other for decades and even though there is plenty of love, they could never legally declare it. In a world of Kardashians, and Elizabeth Taylors, it is hard to imagine why anyone would be against two people in love wanting to make it official.
If you are fortunate enough to have that ring on your finger, then you know how important marriage is to your relationship. Let’s make sure that everyone can share that feeling.
It is free to join the cause, and think of all the weddings you can attend that will actually be done in good taste. Oh -— it’s also the right thing to do. 
While the rainbow may be growing, marriage equality has a long way to go. Twenty-nine states have bans on same-sex marriage with only interference from the courts or ballot initiatives capable of overturning such regulations.
Even though Mississippi will most likely bring up the rear in recognizing same-sex unions, that does not mean you have to go along with it.
Speak out.
After all, it’s what Adele would want. 
Patrick Young is a graduate student in public policy and administration. He can be contacted at [email protected].