The fight to legalize gay marriage and instantiate gay rights into state wide if not federal legislation has had booming success this year, with Election Day opening up with Washington, Maryland, and Maine legalizing same sex marriage, soon to be followed in 2013 by Rhode Island and Delaware likewise legalizing same-sex marriage, and the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a section of the Defense of Marriage Act that would define marriage as between a man and a women in California’s constitution. With the intense and continual activism of gay-rights supporters, combated against an equally fervent gay-rights denier lobby, it is anticipated that three more states could legalize marriage before the end of the year.
Illinois, for one, is rallying to see if Democratic leaders have enough votes in the House to pass the legislation. Rep. Greg Harris (D) the sponsor of the legislation has not made it clear yet whether he will attempt the vote Tuesday, or wait until January. The same-sex marriage bill had stalled in the House earlier this year, but it might be picked up soon.
New Mexico likewise could make its laws less ambiguous. It never defined marriage in terms of gender, and earlier this year same-sex couples were awarded marriage licenses by eight country clerks who took in on themselves to allow it. This Wednesday, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union will argue before the Supreme Court over the matter.
In Hawaii this Monday Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) called for the passing of a same-sex marriage bill, and said he wouldn’t call for it unless he was certain he had the vote to pass the bill.
The overall trajectory is that most states with Democratic controlled governments have made the cross-over to allow same-sex marriage; and with the success of the Democrats these last few years, we’ve seen large changes in legislation regarding gay rights, changing the temper and tone of the country as a whole.