I was overjoyed to see that on the heels of the California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage, our own Gov. Deval Patrick demonstrated his commitment to equal rights and support for the gay community when his daughter Katherine Patrick came out publicly as a lesbian last week. It was inspiring to see them march together in Boston’s Gay Pride parade Saturday, and it made me proud that Massachusetts has a governor with a true devotion to the ideals of equality.

At the risk of appearing like I’ve lost my usually jaded and cynical worldview, it’s difficult to look at the cultural moment reigning in America right now and not be excited about what the immediate future holds. It’s a moment when Californian economists and wedding planners are praising gay marriage for sparking what they believe will be a major boost to the ailing economy. It’s a moment when a lesbian couple who have been together for 55 years are finally able to marry in San Francisco, and receive all the public benefits and private satisfactions that marriage brings.

What’s more, it’s a moment when an 18-year-old daughter of a major politician can be secure in declaring her orientation, knowing she has the love and support of her parents. Though the fight for equal rights is far from complete it’s good to know that one or two battles have been won along the way.

So while the religious right continues to scour the Bible, looking for any passage that vaguely alludes to the immorality of gay marriage, I simply wish to congratulate a young Katherine Patrick for her courage.

That said, I’d like to also wish a belated Happy Father’s Day to Gov. Patrick. If only every gay kid had a father like him.

– Emma Johnson is a senior journalism major.