Drawing the line between supporters of gay rights and those opposed to gay rights is not as easy as one might think.
It's not simply a matter of Democrat versus Republican. Many Democrats, for example, working class black Baptists, are uncomfortable with the pro-gay stance of the party's vanguard. And many Republicans actually don't have a problem with civil unions or gay marriage. (A conservative friend of mine believes that cohabiting gay couples should be forced to get married.)
The fact is that marriage is a crazy sort of thing, regardless of whether you're talking about heterosexual or homosexual relationships. One of the first gay couples ot get married in Canada decided their relationship was not going to work after a mere three months as wife and wife, and found out to their horror that while Canadian law allowed them to marry, it did not, at that time, allow them to divorce. They were forced to remain bound in wedlock until the Canadian legislative process slowly ground its way to a resolution. So when it comes to enshrining rights through legislation or even a constitutional amendment, it's important to take things slowly and carefully, because you know, you might just get what you asked for.
Personally, I don't have any objection to gays getting married or divorced. However, it should come as no surprise that many people have a problem with the concept, regardless of political stripe.
Divorce rates in America today are very high, not only in cities where one would expect them, but in rural areas which used to be where traditional American values like marriage "till death do we part" were upheld almost religiously. The fact is that many men and women across the country are trying to figure out what marriage is all about. Add to that this idea of gay marriage, and they just get even more confused.
But opposition to gay marriage comes from more than just the confusion of earnest country boys and girls wondering why their spouse cheats on them, spawning divorce after divorce, and one hurtin' song after another. There is an aspect to the "Pro Hetero Marriage" movement that is actually very sinister.
Now, it's one thing to be uncomfortable about people's sexual orientation. It's quite another to categorically deny people the rights and privileges we have simply because they're different. That's hatred.
If those in the "Pro Marriage" Movement would just come out and admit they hate gays, I think we'd have something to work with. Do you really hate gays? Then just say you hate gays. Admit that you think the world would be a better place if there were no gays at all. Now, would you really like to get rid of gays? Then let them join the armed forces. Problem solved.
Y'see where I'm going here?
Many gays want to serve their country as warriors, yet are being discriminated against by having to adhere to a basically inhuman requirement to keep their sexuality secret or risk being dishonorably discharged. Gay-friendly voters and politicians, even those who may not be totally comfortable with gay marriage, clearly see the justice in allowing gays to risk their lives for our country.
On their own, this liberal cadre doesn't stand a chance of effecting change. But, by allying with gay-haters who understand that sending gays off to war will inevitably decrease the gay population, we will have created a pragmatic, bipartisan alliance that will grant gays one of our most fundamental rights - the right to bear arms and defend our nation.
Maybe America is not ready for gay marriage...yet. But heroism on the battlefield stands to buy more for acceptance of gays in our society than any amount of political posturing.