Monday, March 18, 2013

Everything changes for same sex marriage

Everything changes. Always. In the case of equal marriage rights for same gender couples, support for gay marriage has grown almost miraculously quickly.
Support for gay marriage reached a new high in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, marking a dramatic change in public attitudes on the subject across the past decade. Fifty-eight percent of Americans now say it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to wed.

That number has grown sharply in ABC News/Washington Post polls, from a low of 32 percent in a 2004 survey of registered voters, advancing to a narrow majority for the first time only two years ago, and now up again to a significant majority for the first time.
In 2004 same gender marriage was one of the biggest wedge issues. Social conservatives showed up in droves to make it illegal in their states. Arguably, it was this single wedge issue that pushed George Bush over the top in 2004 and allowed him inflict four more miserable years of his administration on us.

One might speculate the reason Democrats did better than expected in 2012 is at least partly because they took the opposite tack. That's definitely a change for the better.

Labels: , , ,

Bookmark and Share

3 Comments:

Blogger Capt. Fogg said...

Some Republican said on Bill Maher last Friday, that now that more people can put a face on gay America -- now that they know people, are related to people who are open about it, the fear is diminishing.

He got an ugly look from Rachel Maddow, but he may be right. Being gay just seems more as ordinary than as weird and scary since we all know ordinary people who are.

When Republicans say such things, maybe we've made some progress. When they're no longer afraid to give the finger to the Religious Right, I'll say we definitely have.

10:24:00 AM  
Blogger Libby Spencer said...

I don't think the GOP is particularly sincere about it. Though I'm sure there are some exceptions, this new tolerance feels mostly like political opportunism to me.

1:27:00 PM  
Blogger Capt. Fogg said...

Political opportunism is probably the safest bet.

11:38:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home