The Course of History
There are two measures on the Colorado ballot next week that are about gay rights. One establishes rights for domestic partnerships; the other outlaws gay marriage. I’m not sure how things are currently polling; last I heard, both were very close. If I had to guess, I would say that both will pass.
It is clear how this battle in the culture wars will end, with equal rights (and responsibilities) for gay couples as for straight. It might take a while, but by the time my children are my age, this fight will be a thing of the past, at least in most of the country.
My confidence comes from looking at how similar struggles played out in the past. Our society has moved steadily away from allowing discrimination against people based on biology. It happened with gender; it happened with race; it happened with age and physical ability, and it will be no different with sexual orientation.
I know, I know, this is a safe prediction to make, if only because of demographics. Opposition to gay rights is strongest among the older generations, and they are gradually being replaced by the young, who are more tolerant. But I doubt it’s going to take that long; once a few states allow gay marriage and people realize that the apocalypse is not among us, enough resistance will crumble to make tolerance of gay relationships widespread.
So what’s my point? I guess I’m just dismayed at all the attention that the issue is getting, and all the national effort that is being expended, when it’s absolutely clear how the matter will end. Don’t we have more important things to worry about? That’s not a rhetorical question. If you’re strongly anti-gay, of course you don’t want to just give in on the issue. But aren’t there other issues that concern you, and wouldn’t it be worth focusing your efforts on one of those instead of burning them in a cause that will be hopeless in the next fifteen years? Or do you fight the good fight, knowing that you’re doomed? Or do you not believe you are doomed, even though the march of history is against you?
It is clear how this battle in the culture wars will end, with equal rights (and responsibilities) for gay couples as for straight. It might take a while, but by the time my children are my age, this fight will be a thing of the past, at least in most of the country.
My confidence comes from looking at how similar struggles played out in the past. Our society has moved steadily away from allowing discrimination against people based on biology. It happened with gender; it happened with race; it happened with age and physical ability, and it will be no different with sexual orientation.
I know, I know, this is a safe prediction to make, if only because of demographics. Opposition to gay rights is strongest among the older generations, and they are gradually being replaced by the young, who are more tolerant. But I doubt it’s going to take that long; once a few states allow gay marriage and people realize that the apocalypse is not among us, enough resistance will crumble to make tolerance of gay relationships widespread.
So what’s my point? I guess I’m just dismayed at all the attention that the issue is getting, and all the national effort that is being expended, when it’s absolutely clear how the matter will end. Don’t we have more important things to worry about? That’s not a rhetorical question. If you’re strongly anti-gay, of course you don’t want to just give in on the issue. But aren’t there other issues that concern you, and wouldn’t it be worth focusing your efforts on one of those instead of burning them in a cause that will be hopeless in the next fifteen years? Or do you fight the good fight, knowing that you’re doomed? Or do you not believe you are doomed, even though the march of history is against you?
posted by Jim at
9:26 PM
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