Support for marriage equality

Yesterday's New York Times printed a full page ad from a group called the Respect for Marriage Coalition that celebrated the support of four very prominent people, with their pictures:

1.  President Barack Obama
2.  Former  First Lady Laura Bush
3.  Former Vice President Dick Cheney
4.  Former Army General and Secretary of State Colin Powell

Note that three of them are celebrated Republican figures, the other a sitting president.

That is extraordinary and wide-ranging support for marriage equality.   I have no doubt that it will have some influence on the Supreme Court Justices when they deliberate on the Proposition 8 case next month.

I don't mean they would kowtow to any authority;  but it is generally accepted that they consider societal opinions and customs in deciding whether to make an expansive decision that would affect all states, or a narrow one that would affect only California.

The fact is that nine states, plus the District of Columbia, now legalize same-sex marriage;  and the last three states to adopt it did so by voter referendum, while one state voted it down.    Public opinion polls now show that a majority support marriage equality -- a rather rapid change.  The military adapted to openly gay service men and women with minimal effect.

The court doesn't like to get too far ahead of the waves of change, but they don't want to be too far behind either.

Ralph