In 1983, Argentina was still a military dictatorship

[dsc]

and just passed, with 70% popular support, a bill legalizing marriage equality. We might well not even pass repeal of DADT and certainly won't pass ENDA. While some of the blame here lies with Obama and Congressional leaders refusing to make gay rights legislation, even legislation with a supermajority of popular support, a priority; the majority of the blame lies with our antiquated Senate and two very backward regions of our country. The former confederacy and boarder states (except MD and DC) have proven to be very inhospitable to any form of gay rights. Not one state in that region has any statewide gay rights except NC anti bullying law. No ENDA laws, no hate crime laws, no nothing. Every state in this region, again except NC, has a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The other backward region is the Great Plains/ northern Rocky region (the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah). Between the two regions you have 22 states with 44 Senators. Our only federal victory thus far, hate crimes, was a 50 vote victory. If we win DADT, it will also be a 50 vote victory. Any other victory will need to be 60 votes. I surely don't see marriage getting there even in the next 50 years. The big three gay bills (hate crimes, DADT, and ENDA) are at or above 70% popularity. Marriage is currently under 50. I don't know that we have 60 votes for an inclusive ENDA.

It really is pretty sad, that gays in Buenos Aires might well have marriage rights for decades before those in San Francisco and New York city. But without filibuster reform, gays in New York and San Francisco will be dependent upon citizens in Boise and Macon for those rights.

[ruggerson]

1. It's also an issue of plain, old fashioned leadership

Many of our "leaders" pander to the religious rightwing instead of making a coherent argument to the American public about the necessity of fighting them tooth and nail.

[Greyhound]

4. Virtual K&R, well said. n/t

[Oregone]

2. They don't sound "pragmatic"

Don't they know they are supposed to fix this stuff later?

[Mimosa]

3. Wanh hanh hanh!!!!

Chuckles knows that it's too soon, have to wait until after 2012 election!

[JI7]

5. what you call backward regions are considered the "true america"

by many.

while places like sf, ny, la are ridiculed.

[gtar100]

6. Truly very sad. People who oppose gay marriage really are missing the issue.

They justify their point of view with religion but the truth is they are self-centered, bigoted and just plain ignorant. They laugh at this issue but fail to see the real pain and suffering caused by their draconian beliefs. The US really has some backwards people in this country. It's our curse.