The End of the "Backlash"
---
The anti-gay bigots, in their rabid frenzy after the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts mandated same-sex marriage in that state, liked to proclaim that "everywhere that the issue has been raised, opponents of gay marriage have prevailed."
Not anymore:
The "backlash" in 2004 and 2005 was a simple case of selection bias. The bigots chose their states very carefully, and, until now, only attempted to pass these state constitutional amendments where they were certain such measures would pass.
But now that's over, or nearly over. To use a somewhat indelicate expression, the bigots shot their wad.
Suddenly, 18 states (or 20 if you include Virginia and Colorado) seem like much smaller numbers.
In any event, perhaps it's now time for our "backlash." From now until whenever the day comes when the last impediment to gay marriage is repealed, it's our turn to remind the politicians and voters who endorsed bigotry of their shameful deeds. We can do this by not living in these states, by not doing business in these states, by not going to college in these states, and by whatever other methods of shunning we deem appropriate.
Someday, sooner than one might think, the next generation growing up in these backlash states will apologize for their parents' shameful votes. Someday, sooner than one might think, these hateful acts will be undone.
I hope the bigots enjoyed their victories over the past two years. Because they're pretty much over now. They are on the wrong side of history. And history will be as unkind to them as they are now being to us.
More thoughts at Good As You.
(Cross-posted at Spectrum Bloggers.)
Not anymore:
Backers of a proposal to change the [Florida] constitution to ban gay marriage fell short Wednesday as the deadline passed for garnering enough support to get the amendment on this year's ballot.The bigots have also failed in Maryland, where, even faced with a ruling by one of those "activist judges," the state legislature failed to approve putting an anti-gay voter initiative on the ballot.
...
Organizers mounted a last-day push to get petitions turned in, but fell short turning in only about 455,000 signatures of the 611,009 needed, said John Stemberger the leader of the petition effort.
The "backlash" in 2004 and 2005 was a simple case of selection bias. The bigots chose their states very carefully, and, until now, only attempted to pass these state constitutional amendments where they were certain such measures would pass.
But now that's over, or nearly over. To use a somewhat indelicate expression, the bigots shot their wad.
Suddenly, 18 states (or 20 if you include Virginia and Colorado) seem like much smaller numbers.
In any event, perhaps it's now time for our "backlash." From now until whenever the day comes when the last impediment to gay marriage is repealed, it's our turn to remind the politicians and voters who endorsed bigotry of their shameful deeds. We can do this by not living in these states, by not doing business in these states, by not going to college in these states, and by whatever other methods of shunning we deem appropriate.
Someday, sooner than one might think, the next generation growing up in these backlash states will apologize for their parents' shameful votes. Someday, sooner than one might think, these hateful acts will be undone.
I hope the bigots enjoyed their victories over the past two years. Because they're pretty much over now. They are on the wrong side of history. And history will be as unkind to them as they are now being to us.
More thoughts at Good As You.
(Cross-posted at Spectrum Bloggers.)
All Related Posts (on one page) | Some Related Posts:
Posted by Kip on
3 February 2006
To comment on this post, please visit the new blogsite.
