This has been a busy few days for the gay rights movement, and most of the news has been bad. I needed a pick me up today and my friend sent me the link for Ellen DeGeneres’s Commencement speech a few weeks ago at Tulane. She had me laughing in no time.

And I needed a laugh.

The Supreme Court has refused to review the Federal Court decision upholding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It’s a move that was not unexpected, and may save gay service members from a bad high court precedent, but it lets the decision that DADT has a rational basis stand as the current law.

The New York Senate suffered a huge coup when two Democrats banded with Republicans in an effort ot defeat gay marriage in the state. The move - amazing especially considering the low Republican support nationally and the complete lack of any concrete policy objectives as a party besides lower taxes and a decrease in social programs at a time when people are hurting more than ever – was a huge shock to the country. It forced me to reconsider just how important these kinds of social hot button issues are to the electorate.

And a pride marcher in San Diego was attacked by an anti-gay protestor as he made his way through the city surrounded by supporters.

After Ellen made a good joke or two about the hangovers and sexploits common to any graduating college class, she told the story of her own professional coming out. I remember watching that episode of her sitcom in the living room with my parents. My heart was in my throat and I couldn’t stop laughing in a high pitched tone. That was me, up there, awkwardly navigating unburdening this huge secret. It was thrilling.

After that episode, Ellen was cancelled and blacklisted from Hollywood for three years. Her brave step, meant that her career was effectively over.

There’s a lot to be sad about this weekend and I know that I am frustrated. But we have to keep in mind that times have changed since Ellen’s first big gay plunge. Things are improving and with improvement comes polarization. The big battles are still out there, but we are slowly winning the small ones: gay marriage in New Hampshire, the first hearing on the UAFA and Ellen ’s talk show – a talk show hosted by an out lesbian with constant reminders of her sexuality thrown into each script - is topping the charts.

Take a moment today to watch the speech. It will make you smile and do something for those big gay weekend blues.