From fighting for the right to serve in the military to pushing for the right to marry their partners, gay Americans face battles for equality on many fronts. It appears that progress is about to be made toward the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, while the fight for marriage equality in California is set to sit on the back burner for some time.
This Fall, the Senate will hold hearings on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It's the first time since 1993 that lawmakers will take up the policy that prevents openly gay people from serving in the military. NY Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, whose legislation prompted the hearings, points out that 265 men and women have been dismissed from the military under the policy since President Obama took office. According to polls, 69 percent of Americans think gays should be allowed to serve.
In California, backers of same-sex marriage are thinking about waiting until at least 2012 to campaign to overturn Proposition 8. Major gay rights activists believe that the only thing worse than losing the fight for marriage equality in 2008 would be losing in 2010, and based on current poll numbers, a loss could be very likely.
So what's the moral of this story? It appears that the fate of gay rights is closely tied to poll numbers.
Fornarina
I agree with waiting. Although it was only a 4-5 point difference you want to make sure you have a nice cushion of enlightenment before you move in for kill on the third time around.
As for DODT I think the country as a whole is reaching the peak of get over the gay thing already Mt. so we'll get there soon enough.
1I want to say I agree with the idea to wait...but I'm so excited to see it happen NOW that I just cannot wait!
2I want to see the American public start to grow up and I think this would be a HUGE step!
But *sigh* it is indeed a better idea to wait a little bit and, like you said, get a nice cushion before you go all for it.
If we waited for America to become enlightened, we would be waiting for eternity. Stupid runs real deep in this country.
3I agree that the prop 8 repeal should wait until the presidential election. I think that the voter turnout of the younger liberal demographic will be higher then. Plus, it'll give the repeal prop 8 people more time to get organized, which was lacking last November.
Sadly, I think that those who voted in support of the ban will once again vote to uphold the proposition. Bigots are very much set in their stupid and hateful ways.
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