Wave that flag

By Matt Bloom

I grew up in a liberal family in a conservative suburb of Chicago. When it occassionally came up that I have gay relatives, my not-so-liberal friends were always ready to heckle me about it. So I usually stayed quiet on that subject. It wasn't an easier discussion when I went to college in Montana, a Conrad Burns-governed red state where gun racks and pickup trucks were as common as gay-pride flags and chihuahuas are in the Castro. After more than 20 winters among the "right," it was time to explore the other side. Now, the days are warmer, and different choices abound. I've only been here a few years, and yes, there are people and places I miss, but here in the Golden state, life's never been better for the Bloom family—it just feels like home. However, not until this morning did the city really stand up to its so-called "San Francisco values." I can't wait to revel in the uproar from conservative pundits, the executive branch, and Mark Morford's hate mail.

Check out San Francisco magazine's in-depth feature on Dennis Herrera's hard-fought battle to bring marriage equality to California. It was a long time coming.