Tag Archives: Gay

It is now one month since the 2012 Presidential election. Aside from the woman’s vote, no group has been more obsessed over than the growing Latino vote.  So I was fascinated to read that last month ABC reported,

Nearly six-in-ten Latino voters (59%) said their state should legally recognize same-sex marriage while 32% said their state should not. But among all voters, about half (48%) favored legalization of gay marriage while nearly the same share said they would oppose it (47%). Non-Hispanic whites were the most opposed to states legally sanctioning same-sex marriage (47% favored but 50% were opposed).

On the surface Latinos seem to be a ripe constituency for the Republican Party but based on exit polling this demographic appears to be evolving toward greater acceptance of same-sex couples.  This isn’t completely surprising since it also mirrors LGBT advances in many Latin and South American countries.

If true, this is problematic for a Republican Party hoping to gain a larger voter base without becoming more socially progressive.

More here.

May 2012  Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition called Obama’s announcement supporting same-sex marriage an “unanticipated gift to the Romney campaign” that would drive religious Americans to the polls to vote against Obama.

November 2012 Four states in different regions of the country all reject ballot initiatives designed to prevent same sex couples from marrying.  In Maine, marriage equality wins for the first time by popular vote and President Obama goes on to win the election by nearly four million votes.

What a difference six months make, huh?  Echoing my thoughts from earlier this year, The Chicago Tribune on Monday wrote a well thought out editorial entitled, Equality Wins at the Polls. The editorial concludes what we’ve all known for a long, long time; marriage equality for the LGBT community is unstoppable.  Chew on that Ralph Reed.

Thanks to Joe My God for the tip about the Tribune’s editorial.

The Presidential campaign has ended but the impact from the four ballot initiatives regarding marriage equality are only now being realized.  Have we hit a tipping point in the US?

Nearly a decade ago in 2003, when I was standing outside the Massachusetts State House to show my support for same sex marriage I knew I was on the correct side of history – what I didn’t know was when that side would collectively stand up.  The first hint came when President Obama spoke in favor of marriage equality.  Just weeks after Obama let his feelings be known, marriage equality activists in Maryland saw a large swing of support for their ballot initiative coming from the African American electorate.  Indeed his continued support has provided weight behind the argument that this is a civil rights issue and quieted the traditionally homophobic rants of many Black ministers.

I hope activists in more states (hint, hint California) are emboldened by these election results and mobilize.  The combined efforts of States recognizing same sex marriage and Obama’s ability to name new Supreme Court Justices bodes well for social progressives like me.

Lastly, I hope our election results spill beyond our boundaries and encourage those in France, Australia and elsewhere to move forward. I’ve not been this encouraged or excited since Massachusetts first legalized same sex marriage in 2004.