Repealing the unconstitutional Proposition 8 may not be on the California ballot in 2012, but history may still see this as the “Year of Marriage Equality”. So far, we know that six states: Washington, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina and New Hampshire will all be making important decisions about same-sex marriage this year. Throw in New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie vetoed pro-equality legislation in February, and the marriage decisions made this year will affect more people than Proposition 8.
It’s not only the numbers that matter. The variety of ways in which the issue of same-sex marriage is being approached offer a real chance to set precedents and change the conversation. Below is a summary, highlighting the old quotes and the new realities.
“Only Democrats support marriage equality.” San Diegans know this isn’t true, thanks to fair-minded Republicans like Mayor Sanders, District Attorney Dumanis, Assemblymember Fletcher and Councilmember DeMaio. New Hampshire may be learning the same lesson. The state legislators who legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 were voted out in the Republican landslide of 2010. Despite veto-proof majorities in both houses, and numerous threats, New Hampshire has yet to repeal marriage equality. The polls show that Granite Staters want to preserve same-sex marriage; further inaction will prove that more Republicans realize that the long arc of history bends toward LGBT equality.
“No state has defeated a same-sex marriage ban.” Sure, we’ve won when poorly written initiatives also attacked straight domestic partners, but the fact remains that a “straight”-up gay marriage ban has never lost at the ballot box. Minnesota could change all that in 2012, where independent-minded voters (they elected Jesse “The Governing Body” Ventura) and a helpful ballot rule (a non-vote is a “No” vote on any submitted ballot) tilt the needle toward defeat. North Carolina will be tougher territory, but is far from a lost cause.
“Marriage equality can’t win at the ballot box.” Minnesota and North Carolina are important, but wins there just keep intolerance from becoming law, and won’t lead to legalized same-sex marriage. Washington and Maryland could be the first time the voters of a state endorsed their legislators’ votes for marriage equality. The last time a legislative decision went to the ballot box was Question 1 in Maine, where loving, committed same-sex families suffered another heart-breaking loss.
And we’re back to Maine. Three years after voters used the “people’s veto” to overturn same-sex marriage legislation, Equality Maine is putting marriage equality back on the ballot. Not to block a ban. Not to allow a legislative or court decision. To ask voters to simply say “yes” on marriage equality. I’d tell you how this goes historically, but a ballot initiative in favor of marriage equality is unprecedented, much less overturning a voter decision from only three years earlier.
Recent polls show equality winning in Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Maine. Lest we get too excited, early polls also showed Question 1 and Proposition 8 going down to defeat. That doesn’t mean 2012 can’t be an historic year for marriage equality. It just means we can’t be complacent. The fact that Prop. 8 isn’t on the ballot this year doesn’t mean that our time and treasure aren’t needed. Pick a state, and donate. It’s about equality. It’s about our LGBT brothers and sisters from other states. And if it’s about your own wedding, Washington is a lot closer than Iowa.
