If the news that the millennial generation is
more likely to identify as liberal didn't scare Republicans, this news, also from Pew Research, definitely should: A majority of
young Republicans support marriage equality. As we know, the same cannot be said for older Republicans:
Today, 61% of Republicans and Republican leaners under 30 favor same-sex marriage while just 35% oppose it. By contrast, just 27% of Republicans ages 50 and older favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry.
There's a 39-point gap between the marriage equality views of Republicans aged 18 to 29 and those 65 and older, compared with a 15-point gap between those age groups for Democrats.
Obviously, older Republicans are controlling the party's official stance on marriage equality as the issue is fought out in the courts and on the ballots. This means that a party struggling with demographic disadvantages for the future is also alienating its own younger voters. You'd think they'd be worried about that, but as always, Republican Party leaders just seem to be digging in.