GaYMarriage Puts Dems on the Right Side of History

August 04, 2012

GaYMarriage Puts Dems on the Right Side of History

Credit:Wikipedia

Yes, standing up for equality is good politics. The Democratic Party's inclusion of marriage equality in its official party platform is not only a win for humanity, it's also a win for democracy. Public opinion on the issue of marriage equality has been shifting over the past decade and the latest polling shows that for the first time a majority of Americans support equal marriage rights for everyone regardless of who they love.

The political upside for Democrats is substantial. It was well past time for marriage equality to be a part of the official plank of the party. Certainly, President Barack Obama's public support for marriage equality earlier this year was a big game changer. Democrats needed to make progress in this area and maintain their status among their base constituencies as well as re-energize and re-engage supporters just in time for the upcoming elections this fall.

With a clear trend in favor of the freedom to marry, particularly in the younger generation, equality for all people is on the horizon. That momentum is the wind at the backs of Democrats who are comparatively ahead of the political curve.

With recent dust-ups over Chick-fil-A and Republicans doubling down on discrimination, Democrats should be able to seize the moment and stand alone on the right side of history. The American public is evolving and it only benefits Democrats in the long run to be ready to meet them when that evolution is complete.