Now that gay marriage has been declared constitutional, and that gay Americans are entitled to the same benefits and privileges of straight couples, the next step should be to work to promote passage of gay marriage in the other 13 “Blue” states, states that voted for Barack Obama in 2012.
So far, the six New England states (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island); three Middle Atlantic states (New York, Maryland, Delaware); two Midwestern states (Iowa, Minnesota); and two Pacific Coast states (Washington, California) have accepted gay marriage as legal.
So 13 states have moved to adopt gay marriage, leaving 13 other states which voted Democratic in 2012. The list includes the following:
Middle Atlantic states–New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Southern states–Virginia, Florida
Midwestern states–Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois
Mountain States–Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado
Pacific Coast states–Oregon, Hawaii
Some of these states should be fairly easy to prod in the direction of gay marriage, including New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, and Hawaii.
Other states will be more difficult, but are possible, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico.
The toughest states to accomplish this goal are Virginia and Florida.
Republican Governors will fight to prevent gay marriage in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, but if they can be defeated for reelection, if their horrible, anti women, anti labor, anti immigrant policies are made the issue.
Chris Christie is a greater barrier, but do not be surprised if after reelection in New Jersey, he moves in the direction of acceptance of gay marriage!
Northern Virginia and South Florida give a long range hope for those states to accept gay marriage down the road, but not anytime soon.
The struggle for acceptance of gay marriage in more states is a battle worth fighting! Already, about one third of the American people, more than 100 million, live in states that accept gay marriage. It is essential to make that percentage more than two thirds of all Americans, over the next decade!
Of course, there is always the possibility that the Supreme Court might move in the direction of a Loving V. Virginia wide scope decision, as with interracial marriage in 1967. But the state by state battle must, meanwhile, go on!
Ronald writes, “Chris Christie is a greater barrier, but do not be surprised if after reelection in New Jersey, he moves in the direction of acceptance of gay marriage!”
Well, New Jersey can end up toward the back of the line of the blue states … if they think Chris Christie is so unifying. (Oh, and if the Democratic gubernatorial nominee doesn’t run on it and tie Christie to being a homophobe who stands in the way.)
I mentioned the governor in another thread. Turns out he’s politically slower to get it than numerous from his own party. If Alaska’s senior U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski can bring herself to endorse same-sex couples for marriage [equality] … Christie can do the same. The fact that he issued a party-line statement, and is the governor of a state that was more than 10-points bluer than how the country voted for the presidency in 2012, is informing enough that he is overestimated in terms of where he is currently at and the periodic talks of him being a viable presidential candiate.
Again, D, Chris Christie is going NOWHERE beyond being Governor of New Jersey, and harming education in the process!
Just to add to this:
@ http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/gay-marriage-state-polls-mapped-ranked/66626/
A fascinating article and statistics, and I thank you very much, D!