Marriage Equality – Time To Take a Stance

Posted by Bob Lord

So, if you believe this post, there’s a bit of a struggle over whether the Democratic Party platform will include a plank unabashedly supporting marriage equality. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/barack-obama-gay-rights-dnc-democratic-platform_n_1346454.html 

This should be seen not as a challenge but as an opportunity. I needn’t dwell on the morally right position, correction, morally correct position. But that’s not why it’s such a golden opportunity. Politically, this could be huge. 

I doubt any thinking American doesn’t get that sooner or later marriage equality will be the law of the land. It’s not clear how long it will take, but there’s little doubt that eventually those anti-gay “one man, one woman” statutes and constitutional provisions that the LDS Church and its members spent so lavishly on will see the same fate as the now infamous anti-miscegenation statutes. 

If you’re with me so far, shouldn’t the Democratic Party approach then be how can the change we know is coming be accomplished (without undue delay) in the way most damaging to the Republican Party, by exposing its bigotry for all to see? If you buy that, then consider when this step – inclusion of marriage equality in the party platform – is best taken, with the choices being 2012, 2016 or 2020. 

The argument for 2012 is straightforward. Swing voters right now have about zero tolerance for Republican moralizing. The contraception wars already have been a huge benefit to Obama and down ballot Democrats. If the Republicans make an issue of a strong marriage equality plank in the Democratic Party platform, it undoubtedly works to the benefit of Democrats. The country is way ahead of politicians on this issue. 

Essentially, LGBT issues have worked to the Democrats advantage from 2006 onward. Yes, Karl Rove’s Ohio ballot initiative in 2004 probably won W a second term, but since then it’s largely been advantage Dems, with one unfortunate exception being the coattail effect of the 2008 initiative in Arizona. I know the anti-gay crowd has passed a bunch of ballot initiatives, but those have drained resources and in the end will be over-ridden. The collateral effects of those initiatives have been minimal. 

Democrats have gained this advantage by continually being ahead of the Republicans and closer (albeit still behind) the American people. Democrats came out in favor of civil unions at just about the time public opinion began to favor them. Democrats championed the repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell when support for it was collapsing outside of conservative regions. Supporting marriage equality is the last step, and it’s a natural one. It’s the way to stay ahead of the Republicans and, this time, even lead the country. 

Waiting until 2016 or 2020? No way. The opportunity will be gone by then. In fact, Republicans already are starting to flip on LGBT issues. Give them until 2016 and they’ll have neutralized the issue. Remember, the Rs know they have to start winning back support in key demographics, and there are millions in the LGBT community who share Republican values outside of LGBT issues. This is an easy one to grab. So, 2012 very well could be the last time this issue is a wedge issue. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity, and do the morally wrong thing in the process. 

Lastly, being bold in 2012 means that for decades to come the Democrats will continue to be seen as the party that gets to the right place first on human rights issues. And that will be critical — when the next human rights struggle comes along.