Public Opinion on Gay Marriage, a change of heart?

A touchy and sensitive issue may start becoming less sensitive and more open as of right now.   Public opinion on gay marriage has started to change and almost has a "revolutionary" view on it. For example, in California public view on gay marriage has changed drastically as more and more couples have started to come out. According to the Pew Research Center a cause for this sudden public approval is many people have relatives who have come out as gay and have confided that they have partners as well. This has led to a change of heart for many Californians as well as people out of state.

According to the Pew Research Center the majority of registered voters (61%) on the California state level approve of allowing same-sex couples to marry. Only 32% reported that they opposed. This shows that in a state as diverse and large as California, there is an increased interest in changing views on a major American issue that has always been sensitive for most and the idea of a gay couple getting married was never thought of up until the past few years. Now moving to the large scale public view of gay marriage. Nationwide, people between the ages of 18-32 the public approval of gay marriage stands at 70%. While this is significant, the most interesting part of the nation poll has to be the increase in approval of gay marriage in the over 65 age group, this approval rating has gone from 13% to 31% from 2003 to 2013 when the poll was taken. As in California, the driving point that helped change public opinion was the fact that many people knew or were related to someone who was gay. The personal relationship that people have seems to be the significant driving factor and since its a typically close relationship many people start to readily approve of gay relationships and marriages.

In my personal opinion I believe that the progress being made with the approval of gay marriage is excellent. It is a public opinion issue on the state government levels which makes it all the more crucial because it could set excellent precedents for other state governments whether to approve or disapprove of gay marriage. I believe that equal marriage rights for all would be the best solution and that it should be legalized and recognized by the States that oppose this issue. When public opinion is swayed one way or another then political action is sure to follow. This higher public opinion for approval of gay marriage is a step closer for total marriage equality.

More information can be found at these sources:
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/26/news/la-pn-gay-marriage-public-opinion-20130326
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/20/growing-support-for-gay-marriage-changed-minds-and-changing-demographics/

Defining the Views of Same-Sex Marriage

Everyone may be tired of hearing about it but Same-Sex Marriage arguments are still going on in the political world and they are as strong as ever. But the battle lines are becoming a little more clearer now, the majority of Democrats favoring an equal right to a recognizable marriage for all while the Republican majority believe the exact opposite; only a traditional "man and woman union" is to be recognized. Recognition of marriage is important because of social security benefits and for the marriage to be recognized by the government in order to secure more benefits as a married couple.

A continual battleground for this issue has been North Carolina. As of right now a referendum has been passed which has amended North Carolina's state constitution so that it explicitly states the only legal civil union that it recognizes is between a man and a woman. The referendum is the States first constitutional amendment and is going a step further than what the state already has done, which is make same-sex marriage illegal. This step is making it nearly impossible for any legislation to be passed which would make the recognition of a married same-sex couple legal. Democrats in the state have agreed that this referendum is a setback but will continue to fight for equal rights. Republican legislature has stated that they will be sticking to what they have presented and will continue to fight for what they believe is right in the eyes of the law and for the better interests of society in North Carolina.

In my personal opinion I believe I would side with the Democratic party on this issue. It is a constitutional issue on the state level which makes it all the more important because it could set examples for other state governments whether to approve or disapprove of gay marriage. I believe that equal marriage rights for all would be the best solution and that it should be legalized and recognized by the States that oppose this issue with a passion. Also the law regarding how a marriage is defined in the eyes of the state law is also a gray area which is why some states are making steps, like North Carolina, to make it a more black and white issue.
More information can be found at: