It is taken for granted that technology is changing every aspect of our lives but the speed at which things are changing is remarkable. According to a new report by Pew Research, from 2008 to the 2012 the number of political activities online has exploded. It found 39 percent of American engaged in some form of political activity on a social media site in 2012. By comparison, in 2008 only 26 percent of Americans even used social media.

Moments ago the French National Assembly passed the final version of a bill that will allow same-sex couples in France to marry and adopt. Washington Blade:

The timing couldn’t be better. Just hours before the Judiciary Committee of the Rhode Island state Senate is scheduled to vote on the marriage equality bill (S38), the Senate Republic Caucus has announced their unanimous support for marriage equality.

Tuesday, April 23 promises to be an exciting day for the freedom to marry movement. Two U.S. states and France are scheduled to take key votes on marriage equality bills. Already this year, marriage equality has been realized in several Brazilian states, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Uruguay and New Zealand.

The ad may as well have said “Senator Algiere, We’re Coming For You!”

New Zealand has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region and the 13th in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

The New Zealand Parliament on Wednesday passed the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill (39-2) by an overwhelming majority of 77 to 44.

Last week in France, leaders of the Christian opposition to France’s marriage equality bill promised blood and war if the bill becomes law. Undoubtedly, such rhetoric will stoke anti-gay violence. Curiously, however, CBN News blames the current spate of anti-gay violence in France on immigrants and Muslims:

Marriage equality opponents have ramped up violent rhetoric, and anti-gay physical violence has sharply increased, in the wake of the recent approval of a marriage equality bill by the French Parliament.

It’s one of National Organization for Marriage favorite scare tactics: lead parents to believe that kids will “go gay” if they learn in school that marriage equality exists. They wheeled out the latest rendition.

I’m simply not good at predicting these US Senate turnovers on this issue; not quite as good as Chris Cillizza, anyway. He had Tim Johnson listed first, back when there were six. I had thought not running for re-election immunized Johnson from having to take a stand on this issue; Cillizza claimed not having to face South Dakota voters might free him to speak out.