When do you think that gay marriage will be allowed at the federal level in the US?

Question

I think that for as much progress as we've made in the last 20 years, it's going to take about 20 more... so my conjecture is 2023.

But in my state, gay marriage is prohibited by a constitutional amendment, and there's no telling how long it would take to change that, even if the feds ok'd it. Maybe 15 years? So, who knows, maybe I will be able to marry by the time I'm 50.

What do you think?

Yeah, I heard a big bit about the Loving case on NPR, and it really struck me how prejudiced our society was and is. It is so dumb to think that blacks and whites should not marry... obviously it is wrong to be prejudiced like that. So why is it still considered ok to prevent gays and lesbians from marrying?

Answer 1

(Sorry this is so long. I guess I had a lot to say.)

Such a change depends on a number of factors:
1- Increasing recognition of gay marriages & civil unions at the state level. (NH just passed civil unions this legislative session.)
2- Federal court cases addressing the equal protection elements. These are less likely to succeed with Federal judges who see a compelling state interest to disallow equal protection, i.e., GW Bush's appointments.
3- Increasing public acceptance of gay unions as governmentally recognized.

The model this would probably be based on is the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court finding that overturned state laws banning the marriage of white people with other races. These laws, including constitutional bans, were ruled unenforceable based on this ruling in 1967.

The first act would be to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, perhaps one provision at a time. For example, it would be good to either (a) allow gay spouses to stay together when one is a US citizen and one is not; (b) permit HIPAA regulations to include civil union partners (not just married partners); (c) inclusion of other non-costly rights to be granted. After that, those rights that may cost the government (social security/insurance) could be included.

This may not be a one-step fait accompli. You may see incidences of recognition (such as happened when a gay ambassador was sent oversees with his partner), but no broad ruling until your projected date.

Mrs. Loving (of the Loving v. Virginia case) is still alive, and she issued this extremely touching statement on the occasion of the ruling's 40th anniversary earlier this month:

"Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the "wrong kind of person" for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights.

"I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."

Answer 2

Gay marriage is ok with me, even for not being gay. I am content with the fact that this society has open many minds so no one lives in fear, amongst haters, and the message: to bring those still in the closet, out. I hate what closed-minded society has done to many folks in the past: Forced gay men, in particular, to marry hetero women. Does anyone understand the impact of the stresses that a gay man goes through day to day while in a fake marriage setup? And what about the hetero wife, who when she finds out that her husband is gay, what the devastation here is like? This is cruel and unusual to have push two totally opposite persons into a union for the mere fact of the pressures of society. I am happy to know that no matter what a person identifies with, he/she is free to live in peace.

Answer 3

What do you even mean? Marraige is not a federal thing; it's a state thing. The only way it becomes federal is if the Supreme Court rules that banning of gay marraige is discrimination, and that mot likely to happen by 2023, or ever!

Answer 4

I'm sure it will be allowed one day....but will still be quite a few years. I unfortunately live in MO, the first state to ban it on it's state constitution. MO is very conservative in rural areas, and liberal in the few larger cities like St. Louis, where I live. we CAN and have registered for domestic partnership and had a commitment ceremony, but I want to be able to legally marry. I will still fight for that right as long as necessary.

Answer 5

Will not and should not happen. I would approve of domestic partnerships but not marriage.

To me, marriage represents the highest standard recognized by society. That has always been, in our society, one man bound to one woman and all the offspring being the result of a union of the two.

This family model is the standard. Anything else, is something less. People can live with or have sex with whomever they desire. They may raise children with a single parent, step-parents or same gender parents. These may work but they are not the standard.

The more I see the effects that all the non-traditional families have on kids, the more convinced that the traditional family is the correct one to be the standard and bear the title, marriage.


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Answer 6

There is a constitutional amendment here in texas too. It disgusts me. Our illustrious governor bush junior, Perry, made that a big priority.

I hope that discrimination based on religious idiots prejudices will be over soon.

Answer 7

It may take another 50 years or so.

Answer 8

I don't know but it better be soon. I want to be able to see my friend get married.

Answer 9

yeah I agree...itll take at least 10-20 years....if so thats good...b/c I just turned 24 and met someone...so when they do allow it...the timing will be perfect....

Answer 10

i hereby apologize on behalf of all bigots, all prejudice, all failures we find ourselves in the middle of.

i'm sorry. i'll keep fighting. we'll keep fighting. and if we can't do it for you, maybe we can do it for the next generation. it's sad, it's not right, but it is what it is right now.


hold on, love.