Emboldened, Gay Marriage Activists Eye 50 States
The Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act in June opened the door to an explosion of activity by gay marriage proponents.
Today, they are waging their campaign on several fronts: filing lawsuits, encouraging public officials to defy state bans on gay marriage, and stepping up a push for state legislation.
Since June, couples have filed 23 lawsuits to end bans in 21 states; governors and state attorneys general in at least three states have refused to defend their state bans in court; and county clerks in four states have issued marriage licenses to gay couples despite laws against it. Hawaii is considering legislation to allow gay marriage, and advocates are pushing for Oregon and Nevada to do the same next year.
The movement that had been gaining strength even before the high court’s ruling is embracing many of the same strategies of the 1960s civil rights movement. Yet opponents see these efforts as “lawless” attempts to circumvent the will of the majority of the country, including many places that have voted for gay marriage bans.