Capitol Hill Blue Forums We shall overcome

Sure it would be a different thing, but I'm just looking at the numbers reported in the poll: We have much more than a majority of people supporting equal rights on every single point...except the use of the term "marriage". I know it's silly, but the silly have made it their sacred cow. We already have same-sex civil unions in several states, and chasms have not opened up and swallowed the citizens, no massive homosexual team recruitment drives in their public schools, etc. So the use of the term "marriage" is really all the opponents have left, in those states.

But wait: Even in those states with civil unions, they really are NOT at all equal because of all the federal rules impacted by the lack of recognition of same-sex civil unions. For example, all the rules about income tax and social security.

So the poll numbers clearly show a path toward equality, and a very significant gain: All we can get right now may be seperate-but-equal, but there is enough support to make the two as equal as possible. Once we have same-sex civil unions in every state (and recognized as equivalent for all legal purposes by the federal government) for a decade or so, then the opponent's arguments just look sillier and sillier.

We shall overcome... but it won't happen tomorrow, even if the California Supreme Court invalidates Prop "Hate". It will be an uphill battle in most states, where ignorance and fear of "the other" are still more powerful than reason and acceptance of each person's right to live their own life their own way. But it's a fight worth fighting.

The fight over the use of the term "marriage" is the single battle the opponents want us to fight: Because it's the only battle they can win right now. (It is one of those powerful iconic words that invoke all sorts of deep emotions in a majority of American people when they hear it. You can't change that with a logical argument.) We can win every other battle, right now! So let's do it.