Rob Horowitz: Support for Marriage Equality is Historic and Important

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Rob Horowitz, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

 

President Obama’s expression of support for marriage equality last week—the first American President to do so-- is a consequential moment in what remains a long-term fight for full equality for gay and lesbian Americans. As the Human Rights Campaign said on their website, “In supporting marriage equality, President Obama extends a message of hope to a generation of young lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender Americans.”

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Pointing to the clumsy politics that preceded the President’s historic announcement, along with the fact that Obama believes that decisions on the issue are still best left to the states, some commentators attempted to downplay its importance. Joe Scarborough, the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC and a former Republican Congressman, called it a “big fat nothing burger.”

While the President’s support for marriage equality will not immediately change the facts on the ground, the power of the Presidential bully pulpit to energize support and persuade some hearts and minds remains potent even in today’s highly polarized and partisan political environment. As the Human Rights Campaign aptly states, “Without a doubt President Obama’s statement will inspire thousands more conversations around kitchen tables and in church pews.”

And American “hearts and minds” have certainly been rapidly changing on this issue and all of the movement has been towards support of same-sex marriage. Just 8 years ago in 2004, when President Bush used his strong opposition to marriage equality as an effective wedge issue, only 31% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 60% were opposed. Today, there is a narrow majority in favor of same-sex marriage. This is reflected in a recent Gallup Poll, where 51% of Americans approved of the President’s support for marriage equality and 46% opposed it.

Republican Pollster Jan van Lohuizen explains this pronounced shift in public opinion. “As more people have become aware of friends and family members who are gay, attitudes have begun to shift at an accelerated pace.” Also, support for same sex marriage is much higher among younger voters than older voters, so it is just a matter of time before there is overwhelming majority support for the issue

Still, thirty states have constitutional bans against same-sex marriage and there remains strong opposition among certain key voter segments, including social conservatives and African-Americans. No matter how promising the future looks, for many gay and lesbian Americans marriage equality remains a long ways off.

This complicated, unsettled and fluid picture makes the President’s support all the more important It has already influenced the thinking of some other elected officials.. In Rhode Island, Obama’s eloquent words was followed the same day by Senator Jack Reed’s (D-RI) announcement of support for marriage equality. Yesterday, Governor Chafee (I-RI), already a supporter of gay marriage, issued an Executive Order recognizing out of state same sex marriages.

The President’s argument that “its important to treat others the way you want to be treated” is a message that was heard loud and clear across the nation last week and here in Rhode Island as evidenced by the actions of Senator Reed and Governor Chafee. Now is the time for the General Assembly to demonstrate that it also believes in full equality for all Rhode Islanders by passing marriage equality.

 

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