While the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal deserves as much attention as humanly possible, gay marriage in DC may be more volatile than the debate over out soldiers. Right-wing opponents tried to put the brakes on same-sex marriage there. The Supreme Court, however, knocked them down a peg by refusing to even consider their objections, thus paving the way for the dozens of gays who plan on tying the knot this wonderful Wednesday. “I didn’t want to get married anywhere else. This is my city standing up for marriage equality,” rejoiced a man named Rocky Galloway. Others have echoed his sentiment, and it’s undeniable that progress in DC provides a great symbolic moment. The center of our nation’s political system now views same-sex couples in the exact same light as their heterosexual neighbors. The symbolism isn’t lost on our opponents, either, and that’s what has me worried.

Police expect some protesters in DC today, but it’s nothing to write home about. The more worrisome opposition’s bubbling in the middle of the country, in areas where “Washington” remains a bad word. An Ohio man named George fumed, “The Washington DC, Boston, as the whole US is putting Sodome and Gomorah to shame… The freedom wrongly interpreted can become an instrument of evil.” [Sic] goes without saying.

And then there’s the National Catholic Register, which today published an article entitled “We’ve Lost the Capitol,” in which blogger Jimmy Akin writes:

It’s always dramatic when, in a war, the capitol city falls… And now Washington has fallen. In the culture war… It could have been stopped by Congress, but it wasn’t—which tells you where Congress is on this issue… And in Washington the barbarians—now in control of the city—are rejoicing.

No Akin and old George’s sentiments will be echoed across the country, especially among religious groups who claim DC’s infringing on anti-gay Catholic charities’ freedom of religion. With a little tweaking, however, this message could also be co-opted into the ever-growing populist movements, movements that insist Washington doesn’t speak for them.

“I think the message is pretty clear, conservatism has never been stronger than it is today and we’re taking our country back,” declared Texas Gov. Rick Perry, upon winning his primary last night. “[We’re] sending a simple compelling message to Washington quit spending all the money, stop trying to takeover our lives.” If this particular election’s any indication, Washington-bashing will soon become a campaign trail anthem for the conservative set, turning incumbent candidates from both parties into possible targets. That will be especially true if they see the Supreme Court’s silence on DC’s marriage equality as an indicator of how the Justices could potentially rule on Proposition 8.

So, while we’re celebrating gay marriage in DC today, let’s keep a steady, watchful eye on how the rest of the nation reacts. If they react in the way I anticipate, DC’s gay marriage decision will become a campaign weapon for the right wing, and that could spell disaster for gay rights elsewhere in the Union.

Image via Bisongirl’s flickr.