STATE
LOCAL
Same Sex Marriage -- An Important Tide Is Turning
Dr. Steven Benko, Assistant Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies
Issue Analysis - When is a winning
streak a losing streak? Since 1998 32
states have had ballot initiatives on
same sex marriage and each time any
measure that would extend marriage
rights to homosexuals has been de
feated. The ballot measures have been
varied. Most of the ballot measures
have defined marriage as the union
between a man and a woman. Amend
ment 1, the amendment to the North
Carolina state constitution said, in
convoluted language, that the only
legally recognized union was between
a man and a woman. Each time an
exclusionary definition of marriage
won, we lost. How did we lose? We
lost because we denied our fellow
citizens access to the important rights
and benefits that come with marriage
(there are 1,138 of them). And we
denied them the very meaningful and
important social meaning of mar
riage. Nothing makes family, friends
and strangers take a relationship
more seriously than the efforts two
people make to. perpetuate their rela
tionship into the future. Marriage is
the single most convincing and public
way for people to signal their intent
to work together to be together than
marriage. However, in 32 states, some
60 times, voters have been convinced
that extending marriage equality—
which is the same thing as extending
equality—to same sex couples would
undermine marriage, threaten the
stability of the family, harm chil
dren, offend God, cause catastrophic
weather events, and initiate a zombie
apocalypse (OK, I made that last one
up). Uncritically accepting bad argu
ments that have no basis in fact that -
marginalize and malign our fellow
citizens is how you lose when you win.
An important tide turned on
election night. As of this writing, it
looks like in all 5 races that marriage
equality (in some form) will win. In
Maryland and Washington the state
legislatures approved same sex mar
riage. Opponents of marriage equal
ity thought that putting these laws
to a popular vote would ensure their
defeat. That was a safe bet. They lost.
Maryland has become the first state
to legalize same sex marriage through
a popular vote. A similar measure
in Maine is on its way to passing. In
Minnesota, a constitutional amend
ment similar to North Carolina’s is
too close to call as of this writing (the
editor would like to send the Herald
to press, so I can’t wait around until
all the results are in). Washington
is poised to follow Maryland’s lead.
These votes are in line with the chang
ing attitude toward same sex mar
riage in this country. More and more
people are endorsing marriage equal
ity for all people. In doing so they are
recognizing the common humanity we
all share and rejecting the claim that
sexual orientation excludes someone
from the civil and legal rights that
heterosexuals have long enjoyed.
Marriage equality is poised to go on a
long and consistent winning streak. If
and when it does, nothing will be lost
and something more important will
be gained.
Obama total: 237
Unallocated Electoral Votes : 95
Romney total: 2Q6
CNN Electoral Map '
You can create your map by
using different scenarios as a
starting point
CNN Efectoral Map
This map is CNN's best
estimate of the key states that
will likely decide the 2012
presidential election. The map
will be updated as the
campaign progresses.
Leaning Obama Toss up
I Leaning Romney
I Safe Romney
Proportional (ME & NE)
CNN’s Electoral Map as of 1 a.m. on Nov. 7
CNN was the first to call the presidential race around 11 p.m. on Nov. 6
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