Appearing on Good Morning America Friday morning, Vice President Joe Biden said the nation's attitude on gay marriage is changing, and that "it’s inevitable there will be national consensus."
He told George Stephanopolous the same thing is happening on the issue of gay marriage that happened with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the military.
Recently, the President said in a press conference his position on the controversial issue is "evolving":
The sentiment I expressed then is still where I am — which is, like a lot of people, I'm wrestling with this. My attitudes are evolving on this. I have always firmly believed in having a robust civil union that provides the rights and benefits under the law that marriage does. I've wrestled with the fact that marriage traditionally has had a different connotation. But I also have a lot of very close friends who are married gay or lesbian couples.
And squaring that circle is something that I have not done yet, but I'm continually asking myself this question and I do think that — I will make this observation — that I notice there is a big generational difference. When you talk to people who are in their 20s, they don't understand what the holdup is on this, regardless of their own sexual orientation. And obviously when you talk to older folks, then there’s greater resistance.
Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank owned up to what many see as a radical agenda when he recently said:
“So, let me own up to that agenda. It’s to be protected against violent crimes driven by bigotry. It’s to be able to get married. It’s to be able to get a job and it’s to be able to fight for our country. Hey, for those, for those who are worried about the radical homosexual agenda, let me put them on notice – two down, two to go.”
As usual, liberals are changing the language to push their agenda. Gay marriage is now called "marriage equality", because everyone supports "equality".
A Gallup poll in May 2010 showed more than half the country (53 percent) still oppose gay marriage, but the trend seems to be going in favor of those who want "marriage equality". In March 1996, that number was 68 percent.
Not surprising, 70 percent of liberals supported the idea, while only 25 percent of conservatives were in favor of legalizing marriages between homosexual couples.
But the poll showed that support among those on the right edged up 11 points since 1996. Perhaps the increase is due to pressure placed on conservatives by those on the left - read, the Democratic Party and the so-called mainstream press - who castigate opponents of gay marriage as bigots or "homophobes".
Meanwhile, same-sex marriage remains illegal in most states.
Some states and localities have tried legalizing gay marriage, but have been largely unsuccessful at the ballot box. Most advances have come from activist judges who legislate from the bench.
California voters approved Proposition 8, a measure aimed at preventing gay marriage, but a federal judge in San Francisco overturned the will of the people, at the behest of the ACLU and various gay organizations, and activists are looking forward to the case going before the U.S. Supreme Court. If that Court upholds the decision, it would open the floodgates to numerous laws permitting the practice.
And if that happens, the Vice President may be wrong yet again, because people will not appreciate having such a point of view crammed down their throat.
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