The most frustating thing about the marriage equality “debate” is being patient. Allowing gay partners to wed has become a no-brainer among most sane, intelligent adults, even those who find the thought of guys kissing guys kinda yucky. (Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, people). No matter how The Supremes rule in June on Prop. 8 and DOMA, it’s a safe bet that same-sex couples are headed toward full civil protections for their relationships. The question is not “if” but “how soon” and in what legal venue those rights will be granted. And when “freedom-loving” red states like Texas will be forced to drag their hillbilly asses into doing the right thing for all citizens.
People like Rick Perry and activists with the National Organization for Marriage know they’ve lost the battle. But until the issue reaches its inevitable resolution, everyone has to pretend that supporting discrimination against an entire segment of American society has merit. Because that’s what one side of the “debate” says. Sigh.
Here’s a question: When news stories are published that discuss women voters, do reporters still consult opponents of women’s suffrage to make sure the story is balanced? The answer, of course, is that there aren’t too many anti-suffrage activists left to consult, or anyone willing to admit (on the record, anyway) that they want to bar women from the voting booth. So that embarrassing chapter of U.S. history is closed.
We’re rapidly headed toward that kind of “no duh” consensus on marriage rights for gay people. At this point, the anti-equality activists aren’t holding out on brave principle. They’re refusing to concede out of stubbornness. And since Rick Perry has stubbornly upheld the right to take idiotic positions throughout his political career, it looks like we’ll continue the fake debate for a while longer. Especially in places like Texas.
Hurry up and let gay people get married. Then we can move on to genuinely complicated issues.
