Bigotry in God's Name

The far Christian right is offering a package deal to the president: they'll support his brand of Social Security reform but only if he forces through a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Even a fellow from the Cato Institute talking on NPR's "Fresh Air" today who was there to argue for SS reform who very appropriately pegged this Christian right measure as bigotry.

Bush can try for the constitutional amendment but at last check, the idea of amending the constitution - which he and his crew have not treated with the respect it deserves - was not too popular even among Americans uncomfortable with gay marriage. States would have to ratify such a change and I'm not sure that even in Dubya's America, there exist quite enough hate mongerers to do that. Social conservatives like Bob Barr, for example, don't like gay marriage but are opposed to changing the constitution. I know several social conservatives who feel likewise.

Sure, there are the nutcases who would, like Alan Keyes who disowned his lesbian daughter for being - oh golly gosh - a lesbian. He's not alone. I know there are people in my state of Vermont who would go for this, the same who felt that allowing gays to enter into civil unions would ruin society as we knew it.

But truth be told, allowing gays to have civil unions here has really changed the fabric of society here very little. If anything, I would argue that it has improved things here. More couples seem to feel they no longer have to hide. But they're the same responsible, tax-paying citizens they've always been. Slowly, you've heard some of the hateful rhetoric against them quiet down.