Support marriage equality--please quit wringing your hands about backlash. [View All]

[David__77]

Many people seem to be fixating on the electoral impact of the Massachusetts court's correct ruling that the exclusionary marriage laws are unconstitutional and unjust. People are concerned that this will create a backlash against any Democrats that don't join the anti-gay lynch-mob.

It is true that some people will not vote Democratic because of this ruling who otherwise might have. But the ruling has already occurred, in the context of a quite long fight for justice on the part of lesbian and gay organizations. Now that the ruling has occurred, we should recognize that it's a victory for human rights and we should celebrate it and gird for battle against those who wish to ostracize the gay community.

This ruling has happened. The "genie is out of the bottle." Quickly, polarization will occur on this issue. Bush is going to endorse enshrining discrimination in the U.S. constitution. The Democratic presidential nominee must oppose this. The nominee can philosophically oppose marriage equality, but should at least allow each state to make its own decision within the framework of the "Defense of Marriage Act," which was, after all, written so that each state could make a decision on this matter. But for non-politicians, for progressive-minded people who care about justice, there should be one concern here--supporting marriage equality and helping beat back the anti-gay backlash that's brewing.

I hope that people will make supporting civil rights their prime concern on the question of marriage equality for same-sex couples and will support all efforts toward winning this fight for equal rights as soon as possible. The fight is taking place now, not at some point in the future, and now is when it must be won.