Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I agree, get rid of the rule.
BTW If I was a gay activist I would focus less on gay marriage and more on this issue.
Look at the civil rights movement. One of the biggest steps on the march to equality was the decision to allow blacks and whites to serve together. This caused a lot of people who had never socialized or even met a black person to serve side by side with that person and destroy many of the myths and biases that may have existed in their minds. These people then went back to their communities and helped to break down those barriers as well.
The marriage issue is most important for its legal implications. If you can get marriage, you can get almost anything else.
Also it seems like gay people are winning pretty decisively on the marriage issue these days, why abandon a winning strategy?
Say what???
Every time the public is allowed to vote it losses. Even in a very liberal state like California.
The only place it is winning is in the courts and a few liberal leaning state legislators.
Nationally though popular opinion is still against it
link
April poll 38% support 55% oppose (the results are almost the exact opposite for allowing civil unions)
CNN poll shows almost no movement in the past year 44% should 54% should not be allowed
NY Times poll with multiple options:
42% legal marriage 25% civil union 28% nothing.
My point with the military is that by allowing gays to serve in the military it will increase overall acceptance of gays which will down the road lead to people accepting the idea of gay marriage.