Not only the GLBT brothers and sisters, but all of us live in a freer country thanks to this pearl of judicial review.

   This last June 19 was celebrated as the 140th Juneteenth,  commemorating the day Federal troops under the command of  Major General Gordon Granger landed on Galveston, and let it be known what the Texan slavemasters had until then concealed from their slaves: that the Emancipation Proclamation two years before had freed them.

   The late Robert Merton argued that singleton discoveries in science are less normal than exceptional in science, and over the years I've learned that if I can arrive at an insight or coin a phrase, someone else can do it first, and probably did. But Googling doesn't turn it up, so I propose that, as we celebrate African-American emancipation on Juneteenth,  we celebrate GLBT emancipation, and everybody's privacy and dignity under the rule of law,  with a touch of camp on June 26 as Junequeenth.

    As the project of African-American emancipation remains unfinished and a summons to us all, so America has a long way to go yet for equal dignity and respect for our gay and lesbian siblings. But if there is room for improvement, there is warrant for hope.  As Rabbi Tarfon (Avot 2:21) taught many centuries ago, "It is not for you to finish the task; neither are you free to desist from it." Meanwhile let's sound the bell for this anniversary and jubilate in its jubilee: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all its inhabitants thereof" (Lev.25:10). Privacy and substantive due process, too. Have a keen Junequeenth!