Marriage equality: all about timing.

Twenty-two percent. In a 2004 poll conducted by CBS, that’s the number of people approved of same-sex marriage. Fifty-five percent. In a 2014 poll conducted by Gallop, that’s the number of people that approved of same-sex marriage. In the past decade, the amount of people that supported the “issue” jumped thirty-three percent. Thirty-three percent. Just think about that seismic change in ideology in such a short time period. The imaginary pendulum swung to the complete other side, and it doesn’t seem as if it’s going to swing back. This massive swing in mentality can be credited to the opportune moment, or essentially the people’s readiness for this.

In 2004, our country was just three years removed from the most violent attack on American soil. A vicious war being fought in a foreign nation, leaving millions falling asleep at night not knowing if their significant others would make it to see another a day. Everyone, regardless of race or sexuality, deserves that person to care about, to worry about. Massachusetts, being the first state to realize that, legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, just months after the first poll was released. Before it became official, fifty percent of the state supported gay marriage. The support within the state was absolutely tremendous.

Because public opinion was constantly growing, California and Connecticut legalized it in 2008. Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Washington DC all followed suit by legalizing it in 2009. The legislators of each state believed it to be the best time for it to happen. The election of Obama, the first African-American President, gave the people of this nation new found hope. The direction of the country appeared to be great. If a country could elect an African-American to be President, it could surely back two people of the same-sex becoming married.

Nineteen states currently allow same-sex marriage, with the great state of Pennsylvania being one of them. This change in public perception made it easier for many celebrities to announce their sexuality. Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Sam, Jason Collins, Ellen Page, Anderson Cooper are among many that revealed their sexuality. The reception for these people were miraculous, and it wouldn’t have been that way if not for the swinging of the pendulum.

The search for marriage equality was all about timing. A country devasted by a terrorist attack, and sending or fathers, brothers, and sons away to war needed something to be happy about. True love, regardless the sexuality, race, or religion is exactly what was needed. The marriage equality is in full force, and nothing is stopping it.

2 thoughts on “Marriage equality: all about timing.”

  1. There are many contributions to the increasing support for same-sex marriage. I think we are evolving into a more tolerant society and it is because of this change that brings about opportunity to legalize same-sex marriage. This is definitely a prominent debate in this day and age and I think is an excellent example of how kairos is making an impact on the national level.

  2. Your use of statistics at the beginning was very powerful. I had never considered linking war or President Obama’s election with increased support for gay marriage. Perhaps one could credit the bad economy as well. Maybe people have bigger things to worry about than who’s marrying who. I’m not sure exactly how much these occurrences really influenced each other; I’d be interested to see if there are any statistics on the matter.

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