NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, I live here. After reading about California's great news and re-remembering Massachusetts, I got so pissed. Because that made me remember Measure 36, and how that civil unions bill got smashed to pieces by some dumb legislator or other. And how it's gonna be so arduous to pull that sticky 36 off the state Constitution and chuck in the rubbish bin where it belongs. And come on! My only ray of hope is that for a few months, some Portlanders were actually married.

Patience is a virtue, and an ally of the liberal.

Fass is right, The Republicans won't hold office for ever. Not even Reagon and Bush Snr could. I'm sure the Liberals back then shared our same fears.

But the Republicans AREN'T in the power positions that matter here. Oregon has been a blue state for a long time, our governor is Democratic, I think our Legislature is Democratic though I'm not totally sure, and our representatives in the Senate are evenly split with a fairly good 'Pub. This is all stuff than went down within the state. Under Democratic majority. That's the depressing part. Reagan didn't end the world and my parents say he was just as bad, so I know Bush will pass, but this is a different level.

But the Republicans AREN'T in the power positions that matter here. Oregon has been a blue state for a long time, our governor is Democratic, I think our Legislature is Democratic though I'm not totally sure, and our representatives in the Senate are evenly split with a fairly good 'Pub. This is all stuff than went down within the state. Under Democratic majority. That's the depressing part. Reagan didn't end the world and my parents say he was just as bad, so I know Bush will pass, but this is a different level.

Yeah, and so? It takes time to change attitudes. Even Oregonians will see that Canada will not be smitten, and that all the other places with gay marriages really won't have changed all that much, and that the only people affected by it will be those who wish to enter a gay marriage and that will be that. As time goes by, the homophobia will be seen for the ugly thing that it is. But it will take time where you live.

Patience is a virtue, and an ally of the liberal.
Exactly, give it time. If you look at every major social reform throughout history, it started as a small minority trying to be recognized, grew to become a big issue, slowly gained support, and eventually became common. However, it takes time.

Change is never undone. Every bit of progress to the left, however small, is progress. I'd give it about 25 years before a large portion of states have gay marriage legalized. Even if it takes a while, it will happen.

I think that is the main problem, really. A lot of people have this fear that gay marriage will somehow ruin their lives/result in America's destruction/lead to bestiality and whatnot, but haven't actually seen it in practice (or met anyone who is homosexual, for that matter). It is more or less ignorance towards homosexuality which translates in to this homophobia.

If California gets this in to place, it will start a domino effect as people start to realize that it's the right thing to do and begin to change their stance. More and more states will legalize it until it's a standard part of our society. Personally, I believe now is the time to begin the campaign to revive the issue, as the Republican Party begins to collapse in on itself and people make a bigger move to the left. After 2008, or even 2006, the going will likely be much easier.

Change is never undone. Every bit of progress to the left, however small, is progress. I'd give it about 25 years before a large portion of states have gay marriage legalized. Even if it takes a while, it will happen.

I think it will be less time than that, given the huge amount of anti-Republican sentiment that's building up in this country. After California's in place for a couple of years, we'll see a flurry of legalization in the blue states followed by a gradual push in to the Midwest over the next decade or so. Finally, the South will cave in. I'd give it 4 to 6 years for many of the Blue States, 12-15 years for the Midwest and 20-25 for the South.