The Hiller Instinct: Time to move on?

Well, we won't have gay marriage to kick around anymore, and to that, I'd say, it's about time.

Do you even remember that this all began more than six years ago with a court challenge, months before 9/11 and the War on Terror?

That's long enough, especially since it was enough time for the legislature to reverse itself and finally take a tough vote, instead of avoiding one.

For years, that's exactly what the legislature did, using legal, but cowardly, "procedures" to put off a decision.

Ironically , it took the state Supreme Court, which authorized gay marriage in 2003, to force the legislature to vote.

Today's action also reflects a change in the political climate throughout New England.

On Beacon Hill, the governor and the two top legislative leaders all support gay marriage. That's new! But it reflects how voters here increasingly feel.

Also new are legal civil unions in Connecticut and New Jersey with New Hampshire joining the list just last month.

So while Massachusetts remains the only state to sanction gay marriage, same-sex relationships are gaining support regionally.

All this doesn't mean you have to support gay marriage, but it does mean you should read the writing on the wall: the battle here is over.

Now, it's time for all of us to move on.

Please note: this will not end politics as we know it. Even if we do stop arguing about gay marriage, there's still Iraq and immigration to divide us.

I'm Andy Hiller, and that's my instinct.

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