Subscribe to Breaking NewsLowenstein: We can’t be afraid of the debate
There has been some considerable concern about Governor David Paterson’s announcement yesterday that he plans to introduce gay marriage legislation in New York. James and Emma will each argue today pieces of that concern– that the decision was poorly timed, and that it was a political stunt.
And maybe they’re right. Maybe this isn’t the optimal time for the legislation to be introduced. We don’t, after all, know that we have the votes in the NY State Senate to pass it. Maybe it is a political stunt. Governor Paterson’s approval ratings have bottomed out recently, and it’s possible he thinks this issue is sexy enough to shore up progressive support.
But I think there’s also something to be said for momentum and for forcing the debate and for never, never, never being afraid to have the argument about equality play out as publicly as possible.
The quick progress that has been achieved over the past few weeks– in Iowa, Vermont, even DC– has undeniably created a momentum towards equality. Unlike when marriage equality passed in Massachusetts, there has been relatively little push back. Yes, the usual suspects have ranted and railed about how homo marriage represents the end of civilization, but general consensus and even media coverage has shifted. There is a feeling that achieving equality is an inevitability. Iowa and Vermont were just the next steps.
We need to seize that momentum every where we can in order to force the debate. Too many times, equality legislation has been tabled because lawmakers haven’t had their hands forced. They’re for equality, they claim, but make no effort to introduce legislation because it’s not “time yet.” That argument– that it’s not time yet– provides political coverage. But it’s stupid.
It’s not 1992 anymore. We’re winning the message fight. The moment that proved that to me more than any other was when the Speaker of the Iowa Senate Leader Mike Gronstal blocked the amendment that would have reversed marriage equality:
We’ve won the message fight, and it’s time we started acting like it. We know our side has stronger arguments. It’s time to air them, and not shrink away from a messy fight.
So kudos to Governor Paterson. (But let’s just cross our fingers he and I aren’t wrong…)
Public polling in California suggests that, if a re-vote were done today, Prop 8 would fail. While this might just be the result of six months of demographic changes (conservative, old voters have died; liberal youth have reached voting age), there’s some reason to believe that the public debate over the issue (and the protests afterwards) changed minds for the positive.
Mike Gronstal, I believe you are what is referred to as “one bad mamma jamma”.
Martin Luther King, Jr. acknowledged that real change takes time; yet he also warned against the “tranquilizing drug of gradualism” and instructed the oppressed to demand equality now — not on the convenient time schedule of those doing the oppressing.
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if the HRC would do the same thing that the Senator did, LOUD AND CLEAR. But the only thing you hear from them is “send more money.” I refuse to send them any more money until they clearly outline the steps they are taking and where these steps are being taken. Right now I feel as though the money I send to them is going down a rat hole. Well, no more money.
Yes Sen. Gronstal…thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you Senator Mike Gronstal. Your words brought tears to my eyes.