Congrats/condolences

They look like sisters. Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen, the two curly blond senior citizens. No wonder, most couples tend to harmonies when being together for a long time. And Jane and Pete-e have. 35 years. On Thursday they held the very first same-sex marriage license issued by Seattle’s King County.

And they were not the only ones. More than 800 gay and lesbian couples across Washington State received their marriage license during a long and festive day, a major moment in history.

"There are individual stories of those who will get licenses tonight and in the coming days and will have an opportunity to marry after many years of waiting, and those are important stories," said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who signed the county's first licenses just after midnight and then stayed until 4 a.m. greeting couples. "But the big story is that we're taking another step forward as a county, as a state, as a society, as a nation." Washington is now one of seven states that recognize same-sex marriage, and the first to do so because of a voter directive.

For as long as I have known Seattle, the city has been identified as gay friendly and liberal in that sense. A safe place for people who aren’t shaped for the square box family that’s the norm. Me, over the years staying in the core neighborhoods of Seattle; Madrona, Montlake, Ravenna, University District, Wallingford, Capitol Hill and Queen Anne, had no reason to doubt that. I’ve even noticed Broadway Market (when it still was there) on Broadway described in publications as the only (or maybe the first) gay mall in the US!

So, it was really interesting a few years ago, reading an article I’m sure in The Weekly, on the subject. Yes, Seattle is a good place for people not so square shaped. Capitol Hill is the center for rainbow families, and Broadway populated by same-sex couples holding hands while shopping for groceries at QFC. But, heading half an hour along I5 to the southern suburbs (for my Swedish readers, that’s pretty much where IKEA is located), that’s a different story. And also, there are differences between same-sex and same-sex. There are hierarchies in every community.

And it turns out, surprise surprise, that a white male couple is the most accepted among the out-of-the-box-people. Then a descending scale following the society in general. Just look at the sitcoms and romantic comedies! The male gay friend is almost a stereotype, and when it comes to couples, there is a bunch of them.

Reading that article made med feel kind of stupid and naïve, having glorified Seattle in a way. I know though, that Seattle is a good city for most people. And for the record, my Swedish town Umeå was in the beginning of 2000 twice voted the most gay friendly city in the country.

So, if the new law on this issue feels very natural to me, the second legalization that took place in Seattle on Thursday makes me feel like an alien. And it becomes clear to me that I am very very Swedish. After all.

At 12.00 am Thursday, Washingtonians started celebrating. On sidewalks, in parks, outside bars and on comfy home couches, cheering a new marijuana law that is among the most liberal in the world.

The festivities culminated with a big, hazy party Thursday night at Seattle Center. The new law doesn’t allow pot smoking in public places, but police won’t interfere. Locally, Seattle police announced they would not write tickets for public use of marijuana, which is now equivalent to public drinking. They will "give you a generous grace period to help you adjust to this brave, new, and maybe kinda stoned world we live in," according to a post on the department's blog.

Watching the pictures from Seattle Center it all feels very foreign to me. The pipes, the hookahs, the proudly held handful of pot. I am not making any judgments here; the American Westcoast and the northern Swedish cultures couldn’t be farther away from each other on this issue, in a historic sense. And that’s what’s shapes us. But it makes me worried. And there is one picture that makes me more than worried, really upset: On this occasion, at midnight, among haze, hookahs and cheery people, there are children. Children! What the hell are they doing there?!

OK, I guess I am judgmental on this after all. My Swedishness shines through in a big way here. And I am congratulating Washington State to the peoples vote on one subject and bringing my condolences on the other.