Stunning surge in support for same-x marriage
Fire from below pushes forward the struggle for LGBT equality
stallBy 信件英文Preston Wood
June 1, 2011
Several recent surveys by major pollsters have confirmed what LGBT activists and their supporters already know: As the struggle for LGBT equality continues to intensify in cities and towns across the United States, public opinion is turning in favor of LGBT equality and against the efforts of right-wing zealots to promote their hateful, bigoted agenda.
On May 20, the Gallup Organization relead poll results showing that 53 percent of the U.S. public supports marriage equality for same-x couples. Even more dramatic is the fact that 70 percent of tho in the 18-to-34 age group now supports LGBT equality, an astounding gain of 16 percent just in the last year. In addition, 64 percent of Americans believe gay or lesbian relations between connting adults should be legal.
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll from March 18, 53 percent approve of legalization of marriage for same-x couples. Another May 11 study shows that 55 percent of Maryland residents support marriage equality. (Washington Post, March 18 and May 11)
An April 19 CNN poll shows that 51 percent of the population and 61 percent of residents in western U.S. states now support marriage equality.
pestcontrolThe people speak truth to power in the streets典故的意思
奥特曼英文It is significant that the latest polls also show the greatest gains for the cau of LGBT equality in California, the battleground over the bigoted Prop. 8, the highly financed right-wing initiative to ban same-x marriage.
shabby什么意思While bigots smugly cheered the right-wing victory of Prop. 8 in California, something more important was going on in respon. Across California, and across the country, people poured into the streets to fight back, to militantly demonstrate against the forces of
reaction behind the law. Millions were affected by this outpouring of resistance and determination as the hate-mongers were pushed more and more into the corner. That momentum of struggle has not waned.
汉语翻译Like the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City, where LGBT people, after centuries of oppression and percution, took history into their own hands and fought back against the New York City Police Department, today’s LGBT movement and its supporters have also stood up and fought back, determined to fight and win.
Independent and militant action in the streets is a major factor in the struggle against bigotry—particularly agcrusainst Prop. 8. This action points to the need to break away from blind reliance on the capitalist parties, both the Republicans and the Democrats.
The current spectacular surge in support for LGBT rights, outlined clearly in recent polls, can only be attributed to the growth of this fightback movement for true justice and equality.
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Far from being over, the struggle against the right wing continues in the face of attempts to codify overt policies of discrimination against LGBT people into law. hv
In Pennsylvania, for example, State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has introduced an amendment to the state constitution to ban equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. According to Right Wing Agenda, Metcalfe has a long history of fomenting bigotry against LGBT people and others, at one point opposing a resolution condemning domestic violence becau he claimed the resolution was part of the ”homoxual agenda” He is also a leader in the racist movement to ban birthright citizenship for immigrant families. In addition, he introduced a ”birther bill“—a bill requiring political candidates for certain offices to prove their citizenship—in the state legislature and introduced legislation to curtail the rights of workers to form a union.
Similarly, a Minnesota state Hou committee on May 18 voted to advance a bill calling for a referendum to ban same-x marriage. The committee vote took place in spite of polls that show 55 percent of state residents opposing such an amendment. In respon,
supporters of same-x marriage flooded the state capitol to protest the bill, chanting and carrying signs demanding civil rights for LGBT people. (Star Tribune, May 20-23)
The measures, while shocking and contemptuous in their overt hostility to civil liberties and justice, are confined to legislative bodies that reprent narrow interests subrvient to the capitalist ruling class. The corporate media regularly feature screaming anti-gay fanatics. Rather than succumb to attempts to push back the movement, LGBT organizations are mobilizing to fight back.
Gains of the movement
A broader view of the current state of the struggle demonstrates in concrete ways the gains that have been won in the recent period of renewed struggle for LGBT rights.
On Dec, 18, 2010, facing growing progressive opposition to the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that banned gay and lesbian soldiers from revealing their xual orientation, Congress ended DADT and nt the policy to the trash heap of history.
