Faith in Values: The Political and Cultural Embrace of Marriage Equality is Growing [View all]

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http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2012/12/05/46831/faith-in-values-the-political-and-cultural-embrace-of-marriage-equality-is-growing/


Jon Lellelid, of the Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, blows a Shofar, or "ram's horn" at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington on Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 to close a Valentine's Day rally supporting equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Approximately 700 people from across the state attended the rally, which was organized by the interdenominational Religious Coalition for Equality

By Sally Steenland | December 5, 2012

Twelve years ago Vermont became the first state to legalize civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Back then the term “civil union” was unfamiliar to most Americans, and the Vermont law seemed radical to many. Its passage triggered fear campaigns and antigay ballot initiatives that energized conservatives and helped them win elections across the country.

On Election Day 2012 voters in three states—Maryland, Maine, and Washington—went far beyond civil unions and supported marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. Voters in Minnesota rejected a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. These victories mark a dramatic shift in public support for gay and lesbian equality—all in a little more than a decade since Vermont passed its civil unions bill.

What changed?

Let’s start with the voters. One reason marriage equality is becoming a winning issue is because young people support it. As they turn 18 and start voting, their views are shifting the political conversation and election landscape. As young people become a larger part of the electorate, support for marriage equality is likely to become the norm. But it’s not just the youth vote that’s driving change. A recent report, “The Big Shift,” by the think tank Third Way, finds that three-quarters of the change in attitude over the past seven years came from Americans of all ages, including older voters.

The culture has also shifted. As more gay and transgender Americans have come out to their families, friends, and co-workers, they have rebutted stereotypes and rigid notions of what it means to be gay. Hollywood—never a leader in cultural trends but eager to be a close follower—has noted this growing acceptance and begun adding openly gay characters to programming. According to a recent report by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, 4.4 percent of recurring characters on TV shows this season are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender—a record high. And an October poll by The Hollywood Reporter found that voters increasingly support marriage equality, with 27 percent saying that “gay TV” shows such as Glee and Modern Family influenced their views.

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