This Washington
Proponents of Gay Marriage Have the Momentum
A subtle, but important shift: Gay marriage—as opposed to gay marriage bans—is the subject of debate.
Opponents of gay marriage have their work cut out for them. Not only did Washington State voters reject their 2009 referendum on gay rights legislation, upholding domestic partnership laws 53-46, but according to a new Pew Poll, people are more comfortable with same-sex marriage than ever before.
For example, back in 2009 (when, again, Washington voters gave the thumbs up to same-sex domestic partnerships), the Pew Poll found that people nationwide opposed gay marriage 54-37. Today it's practically a dead heat—46 opposed to 45 in favor.
The Pew report notes: "That marked the first time in 15 years of polling that the public has been evenly divided over this issue." Indeed, 15 years ago, it was 65-27 against.
Gays can thank Millenials, those born after 1980, who are voters now and favor gay marriage by 64 percent. Among Gen Xers, support is 46 percent and among Baby Boomers, it's 37 percent. (Of course, Millennials are less likely to vote than either Gen Xers or Baby Boomers).
With gay marriage legislation passing in New Jersey (where it lost just two years ago) and in play in Maryland, the Washington Post has has a report on the shift in attitudes, summing up proponents' momentum (as opposed to the anti-gay marriage onslaught of the 2000s), writing succinctly: "marriage laws rather than marriage bans may be the mark of the 2012 election."
Opponents of gay marriage have their work cut out for them. Not only did Washington State voters reject their 2009 referendum on gay rights legislation, upholding domestic partnership laws 53-46, but according to a new Pew Poll, people are more comfortable with same-sex marriage than ever before.
For example, back in 2009 (when, again, Washington voters gave the thumbs up to same-sex domestic partnerships), the Pew Poll found that people nationwide opposed gay marriage 54-37. Today it's practically a dead heat—46 opposed to 45 in favor.
The Pew report notes: "That marked the first time in 15 years of polling that the public has been evenly divided over this issue." Indeed, 15 years ago, it was 65-27 against.
Gays can thank Millenials, those born after 1980, who are voters now and favor gay marriage by 64 percent. Among Gen Xers, support is 46 percent and among Baby Boomers, it's 37 percent. (Of course, Millennials are less likely to vote than either Gen Xers or Baby Boomers).
With gay marriage legislation passing in New Jersey (where it lost just two years ago) and in play in Maryland, the Washington Post has has a report on the shift in attitudes, summing up proponents' momentum (as opposed to the anti-gay marriage onslaught of the 2000s), writing succinctly: "marriage laws rather than marriage bans may be the mark of the 2012 election."
