As much as I want gays to have equality, I think it's a terrible idea for them to use a Supreme Court challenge (vis a vis California's Prop 8) to achieve this equality. It's one of those issues that will embarrass this country given not too much more time (look at youth support for gay marriage), and laws banning marriage will begin to be reversed on a state-by-state basis. I understand how frustrated gays are, but remember Nixon's "silent majority" after the civil rights act? I'm afraid it will be that all over again, and other progressive issues such as universal health care, drug policy sanity, etc., will all be tabled while the country has another culture war. It almost seems like greedy, wealthy Republicans are just PLAYING DEMOCRATS FOR FOOLS. I almost feel like we need to WAKE THE FUCK UP.
I believe in gay rights, I marched in the San Francisco protests on Wednesday and Friday, but I just don't know that using the power of the courts is the way to go on this one, at least on a national level. Someone please tell me that gays getting marriage a few years earlier (vis a vis the Supreme Court instead of the legislature) won't come at the cost of all the other progressive issues on the table. Remember, it was Republican-appointed judges that declared gays had the right to marry in California. Maybe they had a grander strategy? HMMM?
Imagine the opportunity this issue provides for the Democratic party if we don't use the Supreme Court... young people will continue to see the Republican party as a joke. We can lock up an entire generation into the Democratic party. The longer this issue is on the table, the easier it is for young people to decide to be a Democrat. Gay rights and gay tolerance will come with the march of time no matter what, but gay tolerance and acceptance will NOT come through the courts.
I hope to FSM I am wrong. Please talk me away from the ledge.