Reply #22: Gay marriage legal in 5 states, up from 2 at the beginning of this year

[liberalpragmatist]

The Maine vote is really upsetting. But it's important to take a long view sometimes. At the beginning of this year, only two states permitted gay marriage: MA and CT. Now, even with Maine's repeal, five states do - MA, CT, VT, NH, and IA. This is two steps forward, one step back. Or four steps forward one step back.

It'll happen.

That being said, I do somewhat agree that maybe for the next few years we should focus on "civil unions" in states where ballot initiatives could repeal the statute. Still go for full gay marriage where ballot initiatives are rare or hard, but as an interim step go for civil unions in the other states. (And really, the experience of VT and CT suggests that "civil unions" don't last that long - within a decade, those states should be ready for full gay marriage.)