Marriage Equality

I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think this is the first national poll to have support for marriage equality even with opposition:

Time Magazine, 808 RV, July 31-August 4, 2008

Should gay couples be allowed to marry?

Yes 47%
No 47%
Don’t Know 6%

Support anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment?

Yes 35%
No 58%
Don’t Know 7%

The numbers on support for marriage equality have moved rapidly and decisively, and the trendlines are unmistakable. Despite the unwillingness of Democrats to take any sort of leadership role on this issue, the American people have been willing to move toward tolerance all on our own. No doubt, the experiences in Massachusetts and California — where gay and lesbian couples have now been married without the states bursting into flame — have been instructive. After all, it’s now apparent that gay marriage is a lot like straight marriage: it’s two people who love each other and want to bind their futures together. It’s not scary, it’s sweet.

I’d love to think that numbers like this would finally convince Democratic politicians to do what they should have been doing five years ago: turn and go on offense, push for marriage equality, work assiduously to ensure that the federal government recognize marriages conducted in states where marriage equality has been achieved. I’d love to think that, but I know better. At the very least, it looks like the American people are willing to head in that direction with or without leadership. As has been evident for some time, marriage equality is coming. It’s just a question of when.