AP - Dems: Opportunity as gay marriage acceptance grows

[BR_Parkway]

Dems: Opportunity as gay marriage acceptance grows

WASHINGTON – Gay marriage legalization in several states and the public's growing acceptance of same-sex unions have Democrats sensing political opportunity and some Republicans re-evaluating their party's hard-line opposition to an issue that long has rallied its base.

In recent weeks, Vermont and Iowa have legalized same-sex marriage, while New York, Maine and New Hampshire have taken steps in that direction. Polls show younger Americans are far are more tolerant on the issue than are older generations. For now at least, the public is much more focused on the troubled economy and two wars than on social issues.

In addition, over the past decade, public acceptance of gay marriage has changed dramatically.

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found that a majority of people questioned, by a 55-38 percent margin, oppose gay marriage. But it also found that people, by a 57-38 percent margin, support civil unions that would provide marriage-like rights for same-sex couples, indicating a shift toward more acceptance.

With congressional elections next year, Republicans, Democrats and nonpartisan analysts say the changes benefit Democrats, whose bedrock liberals favor gay unions, and disadvantage Republicans, whose conservative base insists that marriage be solely between a man and a woman

<snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090502/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_marriage_politics

[Enrique]

1. the GOP should go down trying to prevent gay marriage

they can be remembered as the only people brave enough to save try saving America from something that turned out to be no big deal.

[Dark]

5. I don't want to see them go. They're too much fun to watch.

As long as they don't get power...

[BlooInBloo]

2. Like some girl told her bigot dad: you've already lost, you just don't know it yet.

[pinto]

3. I think this is one of those political tidal shifts that is inevitable,

and will be seen so in hindsight. Social recognition is far out front of the politics of it all. Lots of families and friends have loved and loving gays in their mix. A normal minority, if you will. Kind of an every day thing. Politics, and politicians, will follow suit.

That said,

The recent hate crime legislation is a good, big picture wall of legal activism to support recourse against extremists in our society. I particularly appreciate that it is individual, yet federal, in it's scope. If I understand it correctly, this means each and every case can be set to that standard, on the merits, in any state.

My nieces and nephews, friends of friends, will call the shots soon. This too shall pass.

[Psychic Consortium]

4. LGBT full equal rights will happen, and soon. 100% certain. nt