Flopper
Diamond Member
- Mar 23, 2010
- 31,657
- 8,779
I attribute the change to the number of gays coming out of the closet. 20, 30, or 40 years ago very few people were well acquainted with any openly gay people. As more gays came out, the negative stereotype and fears began to fall by the wayside. The gay population was no longer some isolated weird group but our sons, daughters, neighbors, and coworkers. Their problems became our problems.Short period of time? It's unbelievable. I've never seen a faster switch of fundamental positions. Gay rights have done in 20 years what it took women a 100 to do. It's phenomenal.This board is not a good cross section of the American public. Consider where this country was 50 years ago or even 20 years ago. Just 20 years ago, same sex marriage was illegal in every state. Today it's been legalized in 17 states. A Gallup poll in 1996 reported only 27% of Americans believed same sex marriage should be legally recognized. Just 15 years later a majority of Americans, 53% believe it should be legally recognized. We have come a long way in a relatively short period of time.However there seem to be enough people who aren't interested in rights and so on, even on this board there are plenty of people.
How many people in the US see the ideals of the constitution and Bill or Rights as nothing?
However you talk about taking away their guns then all of a sudden the Bill or Rights becomes the most important thing in the world.
The increasing number of openly gay people have convinced most Americans that same sex marriage is nothing to be feared. I think the trend is clear. Bans on same sex marriage will follow the same path as bans on interracial marriage. The only question is how long it will take.