Curious - Gay activists, where did the gay marriage issue start?

[blm]

It seems that civil unions were just becoming possible when gay marriage flames started a wildfire all across the political landscape.

I also note that the judges who voted on it in Massachusetts were all appointed by Republicans. Could this have been a set up to demonize gays even further?

My main question is, how much was it an issue in your community before Bush/Rove framed it as their issue and ran with it?

[htuttle]

1. In my recollection, Rove started this whole thing

The pro-gay marriage actions all happened in response to the Republicans forcing the issue.

[Dookus]

2. it's been an issue for many years

in the GLBT community.

It came up over 10 years ago in Hawaii. It was just this year that the RNC decided to make a national issue of it for political gain.

[whirlygigspin]

3. a long time ago, far far away

there was this couple, Adam & Eve,
then one day along came Steve...

har har

[LTRS]

4. As a gay activist, let me tell you

There are always court cases going on in various states about this issue. That has been going on for a decade. Almost all them were unsuccessful, and then boom! the MA courts ruled in our favor and kept ruling in our favor up the chain until it was legal there.

You just didn't hear about it before because no court ruled in our favor until MA.

[blm]

5. That's part of my point. Those were GOP appointed judges

in a state the GOP historically uses to demonize the left.

It seems that the courts had NO arguments against civil unions that could force a backlash but gay marriage could.

[MsUnderstood]

6. It is not just about gay marriage

It is a gay rights issue...that has matured as the gay/lesbian community has matured.

But in regards to marriage.

In 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled three gay couples had been denied marriage licenses on the basis of their gender and ordered the state of Hawaii to show a "compelling state interest" against same-sex marriage. In 1996, Hawaii lost its case in Circuit Court.
(http://www.datalounge.com/datalounge/issues/index.html?storyline=282)

Didn't matter. it freaked out the hate machine known as the christian conservative and The DOMA act (defense of marriage act) was passed in 1996.

Gays continued to work at a state level and in 2000, Vermont gave CIVIL UNIONS (which granted states rights but did nothing on the federal level).

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html

Then in 2003, Mass "activist judges" pointed out nothing in their constituion allowed discrimination based on sexual orintation and Mass allowed gay marriage.

Feeling a sprig of hope, Gays tried getting married in Oregon, California, New York, New Mexico, etc.

It was squished pretty effectively.

Does that help?

[blm]

7. I was aware of most of that timeline. My suspicion was with the sudden

burst of flame that coincided with the Democratic primaries. As most people here know by now, I am not much of a "coincidence theorist" when Bushes or GOP politics are involved.

[Chelsea Patriot]

8. I have always suspected that MA Court.

As a gay man in a ten year relationship living in the center of the Gay community on the East Coast, let me say this issue was not initiated by us.

None of the couples I know were looking for this fight. When I've talked about this issue with other gay men, they have said, "We just want the same rights as Straight couples."

Marriage has never been the goal. The men I know have been content with Domestic Partnerships or civil unions.

Personally, I see marriage as between a man and a woman!

Historically, it has always been composed of members of the opposite sex! No matter the motivation behind it, the institution i.e. property rights, economic circumstances, or love, the indisputable fact remains Marriage has always been between a man and a woman.

The arguments made by Queer academics, activists and columnist never made sense to me. If I find their arguments specious, what must straight people in GA think.

Evan Wolfson, the leading advocate for gay marriage, whom I've met several occasions in social settings, was not even in a relationship when he started his crusade. The issue for him always seemed to me to be a good way to make a name for himself, thereby securing himself a partnership in a left leaning law firm, which subsequently happened.

Wolfson was not an isolated case. Read interviews with other marriage activists. One finds the same line, "Oh, Marriage isn't for me;but, I want to make sure other queers can get married, if they want."

I also suspect the gay media. Like the mainstream media, over the post few years, the gay media was bought up by the right-wing media conglomerates. Editors and columnists suddenly began pushing this "We have to have Marriage or we are second class citizens!" line or comparing the marriage issue to The Civil Rights Struggles of The Early '60's.

Oh, Mary, Please! My partner and mine life together, summering in The Pines is exactly like life in the 1930's in AL for African-Americans. I can't tell you how ridiculous and offensive I found that argument! No wonder African-American Churches turned on us!

I think this Marriage issue was a right Wing set-up from the word "Go!" When has a Republican Court ever had the Best Interests Of Gays/Lesbians in mind?

There's much more to this Issue then appears on the surface!