Reply #7: That other point., though...

[carl_pwccaman]

...that gay people who won't vote democrat because of this, wouldn't vote democrat anyhow...

I thought the democratic party was more than one issue, and that instead of looking only at one issue, we all would do best to think of the bigger picture, while advocating our own viewpoint.

I advocate for gay rights. I argue that gay marriage is consistent in principle with equality under the law, while the current state of things is inconsistent. I argue that our country's principles are strengthened when we work out the inconsistencies. But I don't bash people who want to delay working on the gay marriage issue, nor do I bash people for being critical of the wording or timing of other laws that are supposed to support gay rights.

I think as a whole, the important thing is to keep the gains we have, to push for more dialog, to encourage more consistency with equality under the law, and to look at serious issues of harassment and police protection when gay people are bashed, and to look at instances where gay people may be denied access to hospital, to bring up unfairness of tax law if a will leaves something to a gay partner and it is taxed differently, etc., to bring up issues with adoption that may be unfair to gay people, etc., and to allow a public dialog to further a culture that is supportive, as the single most important strategy, an educated public, not just a public that brow beats people with certain controversial positions.

In many states, the success of initiatives intended to protect homosexuals or ensure equality, has resulted in backlash. Backlash is something that can be dealt with strategically, in different ways, at different times. We may disagree on specifics.

It seems to me that pushing can result in pulling/backlash. If I have to push something, I'd rather push on a case where someone was denied access to a hospital bed. Find a case, I'll push, they can pull all they want, it makes them look so bigoted, they can dig their own grave, I'll help them fall into the pit of their own making. Same with inheritance discrepancies, urge a bill to fix that problem, or the health insurance issue for partners. I can push that and deal with their pull a hell of a lot easier.

But with gay marriage, hey I'm a complete heretic. I don't 'get' marriage. I don't like the idea of the state licensing it, who needs their approval for a religious ceremony or personal arrangement like living together in commitment?... But I do 'get' the idea of equality under the law, and that the current situation is one of 'second class citizenship' similar to laws against miscegenation. I can push the view, but I can't say that a marriage law is more important than other issues like the healthcare system, war, poverty, harassment, abuse, murders rapists and pedophiles let out of prison, etc.

It's easier for me to support a law to tally police response and the justice system results when it comes to bullies who target gay people, to make sure gay people can expect the justice system to work for them too as equal citizens... it's easier for me to deal with a TANGIBLE and easily explained injustice.

I can push on other things, but it's harder.

I don't expect a politician to forget other issues, and to drop everything, to try to make everything consistent and ideal, on my timing. Especially when they aren't in a 'gay party', they have other issues, and other issues right now are very important.