Gay Rights in the Election

I believe that the issue of gay marriage will only have a nominal effect on this election, and the outcome of the election will not have a concrete influence on the issue. The reason I think this is that there is no substantial difference between Kerry and Bush on the issue besides the Constitutional amendment, which will never pass. I think that voters whose primary issue is gay rights will lean toward Kerry because of the perception that he is more open to gay marriage, even though he opposes it. Bush has presented himself as less "gay-friendly" because of his push for the Constitutional amendment. The reality is, however, that no comprehensive legislation on gay marriage will be passed in the next four years, and the real progress will be made in 2008 when the candidates will reflect the national movement toward the middle on the issue.

My belief that the future of the Republican gay rights platform is one promoting civil unions is reinforced by the material in an episode of "This American Life" that discusses the mission of a gay republican at the National Republican Convention. The impression is that the majority of Republicans do not believe in gay marriage, but believe that gay people should not have their rights infringed upon, and the compromise of these two beliefs would be civil unions on a state level of constitutionality.

http://www.thislife.org/