Nov 7th Had A Silver Lining For Us

[ruggerson]

With a Democratic congress, we can be almost certain that the federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is dead as a doornail for at least two years.

Both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have to okay whether something ever reaches the floor for a vote. Neither of them support this amendment and neither do any of the majority leadership in the new House or Senate.

The bigot's amendment is dead. If we hold the Senate in '08 (which looks likely given the breakdown of who is up for reelection then) the amendment is dead for four years.

Four years is an eternity in politics. Yes, individual states banned marriage this year, but those states mostly are in the South and some red Midwest states (and CO).

Over the next four years, two, maybe three New England or Mid Atlantic states could follow Massachussetts' example and fully legalize gay marriage. New York, the big enchilada, being at the top of the list.

The freedom train is on track. It hits the occasional bump, but it's still headed in the right direction.

At full speed.

[soothsayer]

1. the freedom train derailed in VA last week

[SaveElmer]

3. 44% of Virginians voted against it...

We need to work over the next few years to convince another 6.1% what a bad idea it is. As reports start surfacing of the true damage this amendment is causing, that job will become easier.

[eyesroll]

2. Unfortunately, WI (a bluish state) voted yes. However--

Under 30s voted against it, overwhelmingly. (30-59 voted about evenly, but 59+ voted for it, again overwhelmingly.)

Hopefully, when the under-30s get a bit more power (and the over 60s who voted for it move to Florida), this amendment will be repealed (at the very least, the second "no civil unions or anything else, either" sentence). Even some of my conservative law-school classmates voted against the amendment (even as they voted for Republicans). There is hope for the future, at least on that count.

[Not Me]

4. Florida has a 2008 constitutional amendment pending

that would forbid marriage equality. Unfortunately for the RW, the voters in FL voted to raise the requirement for amending the constitution to a 60% supermajority. That will be tough for them to meet, even in this fucked up place.

[LeftCoast]

5. Another silver lining - more openly gay & lesbians were elected

than ever before. Heard it on Logo!