Kinsley article on gay marriage
Michael Kinsley just published a really interesting piece. Basically, he points out that about 15 years ago, he was approached about doing a piece in The New Republic about gay marriage. At the time, he thought it was far outside the mainstream, but he enlisted Andrew Sullivan to write an article on it.
I've felt that any polititian that rails against gay marriage, even in the conservative areas of the country is going to have some explaining to do in a few years. According to a MSGOP poll, half of 18-29 year olds support gay marriage. Not civil unions, marriage. Big ups for Gen Next!
Among the general population, 53% have accepted the idea of civil unions. Not bad, but imagine how low this number would have been even 5 years ago. Hell, imagine how low it would have been 2 years ago. Republicans successfully managed to get their base out in this election by putting referenda banning gay marriage to a vote in any state that was possible. Just how far off do they think it is before people make the small logical step to acceptance of marriage?
From the Kinsley Article in the Salt Lake (yes, Salt Lake) Tribune:
My feeling is that the right knew that this was the last election that these amendments could pass. Those young voters I mentioned in the second paragraph? They're politically active, and they're pissed. So go ahead wingers. Get into bed (metaphor intended) with Falwell, Robertson and Santorum. In five years you'll be overtaken by events, and people will look at you as a paleoconservative Strom Thurmond-class relic. And we know where that got Trent Lott. Apologizing his ass off on BET.
And speaking of Santorum, I'll be setting my TiVo for good ol' Man-on-dog's tearful apology on a very special Queer Eye about 5 years from now.
I've felt that any polititian that rails against gay marriage, even in the conservative areas of the country is going to have some explaining to do in a few years. According to a MSGOP poll, half of 18-29 year olds support gay marriage. Not civil unions, marriage. Big ups for Gen Next!
Among the general population, 53% have accepted the idea of civil unions. Not bad, but imagine how low this number would have been even 5 years ago. Hell, imagine how low it would have been 2 years ago. Republicans successfully managed to get their base out in this election by putting referenda banning gay marriage to a vote in any state that was possible. Just how far off do they think it is before people make the small logical step to acceptance of marriage?
From the Kinsley Article in the Salt Lake (yes, Salt Lake) Tribune:
Today's near-universal and minimally respectable attitude - the rock-bottom, nonnegotiable price of admission to polite society and the political debate - is an acceptance of gay people and of open, unapologetic homosexuality as part of American life. This would have shocked, if not offended, the great liberals of a few decades ago - men such as Hubert Humphrey.
Such a development is not just amazing. It is inspiring. American society hasn't used up its capacity to recognize that it harbors injustice, and it remains supple enough to change as a result. In fact, the process is speeding up. It took black civil rights a century, and feminism half a century, to travel the distance gay rights have moved in a decade and a half.
My feeling is that the right knew that this was the last election that these amendments could pass. Those young voters I mentioned in the second paragraph? They're politically active, and they're pissed. So go ahead wingers. Get into bed (metaphor intended) with Falwell, Robertson and Santorum. In five years you'll be overtaken by events, and people will look at you as a paleoconservative Strom Thurmond-class relic. And we know where that got Trent Lott. Apologizing his ass off on BET.
And speaking of Santorum, I'll be setting my TiVo for good ol' Man-on-dog's tearful apology on a very special Queer Eye about 5 years from now.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home