Thread: How long do you think it will be before we have equal gay rights? (gay marriage)

Many things have happened over the last 25 years and even more over the last 5-10.

I used to think Id never see it, only my daughter would, or Id be elderly before discrimination against gays dramatically decrease and america had equal gay rights

Now I think its probably 10 years max.

This poll isn't about whether you agree with it its about when you think America will right one more of its wrong and give equal rights to gays and allow them to marry.

Bigotry is dying more and more everyday and many of those that don't agree with it understand its wrong to discriminate and deny equal rights.

0-5 years
5-10 years
10-15 years
15-20 years
25+ years
50+ years
Never

Think it's totally at the mercy of SCOTUS. How a judge would lean on this isn't high priority for most voters anymore, so it's probably other factors like the economy that will determine the future court composition. Could be within the year, could be decades. Hoping my boy Scalia will come through (imagine right wing reaction then).

My best guess would be 20-30 years before it's legal everywhere. By that time enough of the older people who are more against it will have died that it will become legal with much fewer people fighting against it.

given that it's equal protection, this will be an issue that is most likely settled by the SCOUTS. probably in a decade or so.

Hopefully - NEVER

Originally Posted by Tigger

Hopefully - NEVER

You can hope but the trend is going the other way

Originally Posted by Objective-J

Many things have happened over the last 25 years and even more over the last 5-10.

I used to think Id never see it, only my daughter would, or Id be elderly before discrimination against gays dramatically decrease and america had equal gay rights

Now I think its probably 10 years max.

This poll isn't about whether you agree with it its about when you think America will right one more of its wrong and give equal rights to gays and allow them to marry.

Bigotry is dying more and more everyday and many of those that don't agree with it understand its wrong to discriminate and deny equal rights.

0-5 years
5-10 years
10-15 years
15-20 years
25+ years
50+ years
Never

I'm all for gays having the equal right to keep and bear arms.

Originally Posted by Quag

You can hope but the trend is going the other way

Just further proof that there's really nothing of value (or Values) left in this country.

Originally Posted by wolv67

Think it's totally at the mercy of SCOTUS. How a judge would lean on this isn't high priority for most voters anymore, so it's probably other factors like the economy that will determine the future court composition. Could be within the year, could be decades. Hoping my boy Scalia will come through (imagine right wing reaction then).

NONSENSE. The SCOTUS should not make law. The equal "rights" that you speak of, specifically SSM, are NOT in the constitution and like many other "societal changes" would require constitutional amendments like the 13th (end slavery), 15th (racial voting), 19th (women voting), 24th (no poll taxes) and the 26th (voting age of 18). As you will note, all but ending slavery was done AFTER the 14th, which grants "equal protection" of the law.

The SCOTUS can not merely decide what "should be" and make that the new version of what the constitution "really meant to say". Until the gay "rights" folks can secure support for a contitutional amendment then SSM will forever be a state issue, the grounds for overturning the DOMA law. A man and a woman are NOT equal, even in today's military, the olympics or college sports and certainly not simply "interchangable" in many of life's missions, especially some missions seen as an integral part of marriage, by the majority, whaich is needed to pass a SSM constitutional amendment.

So my poll answer is likely never, since SSM is so far down on this nation's "priority" list and the SCOTUS being taken over by law makers is HOPEFULLY not on the radar either.

I'd say most likely 5-10 years and it will be decided by the SCOTUS. I don't think sooner, for the whole country unless the DOMA decision is made with a scope than I imagine it will be, and I don't think the Prop 8 case will take down the state bans, even if it does take down Prop 8.

I think DOMA will go down with the case coming up, but not sure if they will go with the Amendment 10 violation or Amendment 14 violation. 10 could prove to be an issue with trying to take down the state bans, 14 might make them mean very little anyway.

Prop 8 should go down under a 14 violation, however, the Appeals Court could have screwed up the decision having a far-reaching effect across all the states. It still would come down to the SCOTUS, but the Appeals decision basically gives the SCOTUS an out to strike down Prop 8 without taking down any other state's laws in saying that it was because they were once given that ability and then had it taken away. This will depend on Kennedy and/or any of the other more conservative Justices and how they rule on this.