I remember November 2004 when things seemed hopeless: 11 states passed laws banning gay marriage. My parents, for the most part, approved, and I didn& #39;t feel safe or comfortable coming out to them. I didn& #39;t know how they& #39;d react and what would happen to me if I did.

I& #39;m remembering this now 16 yrs later, walking around this room trying to get my infant daughter to sleep. My husband& #39;s napping in the other room. I& #39;ve spent the day sending pictures to the family and just got off the phone with my parents updating them about the new grandchild.

Listening to the news the past few days, I worry that things may change in ways that will make my life and so many other people& #39;s lives more difficult.

I fear that many other people are probably finding this time particularly difficult and wonder how they must be worried.

Things were bad, but they got much better. Thing were bad, but they got better because so many people were patient and persistent. Not only in the big ways that make the news, but also in small, unnoticed, unhistoric acts that grow the good of the world.

It& #39;s hard not to worry that things will change again to make life challenging for me and so many others. But I have hope that ultimately things will be better and continue to get better.

In the meantime, we will have our patience and persistence.