Republicans are becoming more open to marriage equality and civil unions:
A CBS News/New York Times poll released Monday found that 49 percent of the delegates to the Republican convention support allowing same-sex marriages or civil unions. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A CNN/Opinion Research Poll conducted in May found that nearly half of those surveyed supported either same-sex marriages or civil union. Twenty-four percent supported same-sex marriages, while 27 percent backed civil unions. Forty-three percent backed neither option. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points
Although, as an Obama supporter, I think that the Log Cabin Republicans should have sat this one out and endorsed no one, it’s clear that the work they and other gay Republicans are doing is having an effect. Half of all Republican delegates is huge considering where we were just a few years ago. That increase didn’t happen because Republicans were routinely called hate-mongers, homophobes, and bigots. It happened because gays have been increasingly coming out of the shadows. It’s happening because people are working with supporters within the Republican party to show them that being against marriage equality is not anathema to being a good Republican.
Mostly, it’s happening because John McCain spent 5 years in a prison camp and didn’t have any homosexuals to hate.
kid bitzer
“That increase didn’t happen because Republicans were routinely called hate-mongers, homophobes, and bigots.”
no, but it may have helped.
social pressure comes in many forms.
Michael D.
Good point, but I think it was mostly because people were working the party from the inside and grass roots. Still, you’re right.
Ugh
I can’t imagine any GOP Presidential candidate endorsing same-sex marriage and leavin the GOP intact as a viable party.
VidaLoca
Ugh is right. Michael, do you really think the GOP is going to drop bigotry as a wedge issue when doing so would mean surrendering one of the major battlefronts that has defined and sustained it in the culture wars of the past 20 years? If that’s your view I think you’re being naive.
DBrown
Log cabin repubics are getting more accepted simply because they know how to get on their knee’s or bend over and say thank you, can I have another – the repubics love that. If these fools think the repubics will give up any power or money for social justice, they are worse fools than the poor that think these sick-bastards really care shit about them and their family-values.
Gus
I calls ’em like I sees ’em.
Michael D.
Nope, I don’t. But I think that with numbers like this, they’re going to be increasingly wary about using it as a wedge issue. When the next convention comes along, and when the numbers are 55-60%, I think it’s very likely they’ll think twice before scapegoating gay people for all America’s problems. I don’t think that’s going to happen in this cycle, however. I’m just saying – the numbers are heartening.
Because that’s what we gays do, you know. When we want something, we just suck dick or take it in the ass. I know a lot of Log Cabin Republicans. And your characterization of them, and all gay people, is completely off base.
kid bitzer
well, i think there are different issues.
the log-cabinites are clearly deluded losers, both because the party is never, ever going to treat them with respect, and because the ‘vision’ they have of an improved republican party is still ideologically repugnant–these are people who still dream of the glory days under reagan. what they want to ‘return’ to was pretty horrible, and it ain’t gonna happen.
still, the poll result that michael d. led off with has nothing to do with the l-c’ers. it’s just an extraordinary–and encouraging–sign that change in attitudes is coming even to the most backward regions of the american mind.
who knows, in time we may find similar percentages of republican delegates who are willing to accept mixed-race marriages, too.
Bedlam UK
Hmm, probably shouldn’t go there.
r€nato
Maybe it’s happening because Republicans are realizing that there are so many gays in their midst… Larry Craig, Bob Allen, Rev. Haggard, that state senator in WA…
Many Republicans probably harbor somewhat modern attitudes about race, but that sure doesn’t stop the GOP from exploiting bigotry to win elections.
r€nato
…besides, it is the fundie tail which wags the GOP dog so don’t look for the party’s behavior to change anytime soon.
Michael D.
Obama has black babies.
DBrown
First, I am sorry that my statement implied that all gays would lower themselves in such a vile manner and I did not in any way mean to imply that most or all gays would do such a thing. My derogatory statement was directed at gays that willingly serve a hate filled group of bigots that are trying to make other Americans hate and even kill gay people; yet these log cabin gays try to beg acceptance from these foul dehumanizing republics. I have only distain for such people who support their own enemies – enemies that advocate harm, hatred and far worse against them but they hang in there and support these foul thugs.
I support gay civil unions and full rights for all gays and would never desire any group, much less gays, full human and religious rights.
Second, I apologize for implying that other gays in any way support or would debase themselves in any such sick manner and in no way meant this insult but realize that it implied that – something I really don’t belive.
I do, however, fully direct this insult at the people who do support these vile republics and I do not agree that log cabin republics deserve less than my disdain: to partly and poorly paraphrase Lincoln: those who desire to be slaves, I would first allow them to become slaves.
DBrown
Shit, I dropped a critical part of this sentence – it should have posted as:
I support gay civil unions and full rights for all gays and I would never support or desire that any group, much less gays, have less than full human and religious rights.
Lee
I think you’re being way too generous to the Log Cabinites. I think the bigger picture is simply that our culture is becoming more accepting of gays because of greater exposure to out gays. People like Doogie Howser deserve more credit for America’s blooming inclusiveness of gays than the Log Cabin Republicans. As the culture becomes more accepting, moderate Republicans simply follow along, like cultural osmosis.
Seriously, they’ve been a fringe group since the day they were founded, often being completely ignored by Republican candidates. Dole returned their contribution. They couldn’t even bring themselves to endorse Bush yet still wouldn’t endorse the Democrat. They have been completely unsuccessful in removing anti-gay language from the Republican platform. If they are ignored completely by their own party, I really don’t see how they can be very effective in molding that party’s perception of gays.
D. Mason
In case you didn’t notice Michael, gays aren’t the only ones who need to provide a little service to get anywhere in the GOP. If gays really want to be treated as equals that means spending a little time on your knees when you want something from a Republican.
Krista
Neil Patrick Harris is so utterly full of win, that there are straight guys who have man-crushes on him. Have you seen the Old Spice ads he’s in? Genius.
Calliope
The Log Cabin Republicans? Please. Get real. They’re a non-entity. They can’t even get a favorable line for their cause in any speech. Their party doesn’t acknowledge them enough to even throw them a bone. They have absolutely no influence in the party. None.
Michael, if you can give me one instance where the LCRs have had any influence, please show it. Hell, just one teeny tiny one. Any instance where they were even able to get the party to go easier on the gaybashing. One, any time, any where. Can’t do it, can you?
It’s Ellen and Neil, and all the other people that have come out that are causing this change. Not just celebrities, but ordinary people everywhere. That’s what changed.
Ellen is on TV every freaking afternoon, and America loves Ellen. You know how many people’s perceptions are changed when a loved child or sibling comes out? Well, Ellen is America’s sister or daughter.
Log Cabin Republicans. That’s funny.
buermann
“John McCain spent 5 years in a prison camp and didn’t have any homosexuals to hate”
They were there, but he doesn’t hate them anymore.
s4j
Rebulicans are not becoming tolerant of the gay agenda. These so called polls that you claim show almost a 50% increase, I would like to see those numbers.
The gay agenda will never succeed in this country.