Momentum for Gay Marriage: What It Means for Rhode Island

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Rob Horowitz, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

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In a big victory for marriage equality and civil rights, New York State last week approved gay marriage after an aggressive and well-organized legislative campaign led four Republican Senators in the Republican-controlled Senate to join in approving the measure. All but one Democrat voted “yes.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who actively led the charge, quickly signed the legislation in to law, making New York the sixth state to adopt gay marriage.

New York’s move reflects substantial movement in public attitudes. Public opinion has been moving quickly in the direction of support for gay marriage. In fact, recent polling reports the emergence of a national majority. A May 2011 Gallup Poll shows 53% Americans approve of gay marriage, while only 45% oppose it. These numbers are backed-up by similar results in other national polls. This is a relatively quick turnaround in public opinion given that only a couple of years ago a substantial majority opposed gay marriage.

While support for gay marriage is growing in all demographic groups, younger voters remain the most supportive and older Americans the most opposed. As a result, the question of whether there will be a significant expansion in the number of states adopting gay marriage seems more a question of “when” than “if.”

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The remarkable movement in public attitude towards gay marriage reflects a broader recognition that it is a fundamental issue of civil rights. To fulfill the promise of America, gay Americans must have the same rights and opportunities as the rest of us. This same hard- won belief underlies the overwhelming majority of Americans who support gays serving openly in the military which resulted in the repeal of “Don’t Ask: Don’t Tell” at the end of last year.

A key factor in this significant shift is that more than 6 in 10 American adults have a friend, family member or acquaintance who is gay or lesbian, according to national polling. Familiarity brings knowledge about the unique issues facing those who have lesser civil rights and family members of gays and lesbians want to ensure they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. In fact, the desire to provide equality for a family member was the main motivation for one of the key Republican money men who promised support to New York Republican State Senators who voted for gay marriage.

New York’s adoption of gay marriage, along with the continued movement of public opinion towards support of gay marriage, has major implications for the fight in Rhode Island where a marriage equality bill is stalled in the state legislature. Given the major public role played by Governor Cuomo in New York, it is likely that supporters of the legislation will expect more from Governor Chafee in future legislative sessions. Chafee supports gay marriage, but will likely be asked to follow Cuomo’s example and back-up his words with real political muscle and resources.

Legislators must also be mindful that two-thirds of Democrats support gay marriage and among primary voters support is even greater. If a gay marriage bill is not adopted before the 2012 legislative elections, primary challengers who gain grassroots support and funding from marriage equality supporters may emerge against Democrats opposed to gay marriage.

In Rhode Island it is nearly certain that the adoption of gay marriage is a question of when—not if. Politically astute state legislators should read the writing on the wall and pass it sooner rather than later.

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Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
 

 

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