Out Of The Closet, Into The White House

It used to be that, when it comes to the topic of same-sex marriage, political candidates would either come out against it or run the other way, lest their careers come to a screeching halt.  Not any more.

In two nationally-televised interviews, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden came out in favor of couples who aren't heterosexual tying the knot.  Not only did it raise their profiles with progressives, but they are also risking votes in this election year.

The Republican party and their conservative offshoots, goaded by evangelical Christians and other right-thinking people, have been railing against the evils of same-sex marriage for years.  Its presumed presidential nominee Mitt Romney is, not surprisingly, against it.

But it's about much more than politics.  Same-sex marriage is anathema to religious and ethnic groups who believe it's (A) a sin against God, and (B) just plain gross.  Who's the "wife" and the "husband" in these relationships?  Why does it have to be called marriage?  Isn't the term "civil unions" enough?  How does this affect whatever children they have?  Does there really have to be a big announcement about "coming out"?

Speaking of kids, they don't seem to have much of a problem with gays and lesbians.  They see them all the time on TV (where it seems there has to be at least one gay character on a sitcom or reality show) and in their own schools.  They see role models such as Rachel Maddow, Ellen DeGeneres and the late Maurice Sendak.  But their parents, who probably grew up without ever having met a gay person (that they know of), do have a problem.  And they're the ones who vote.

Most states now have laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.  Some states, such as North Carolina, have had these laws upgraded to constitutional amendment status.  And others will ask voters to do what the Tarheel State just did in November.  One of those states is in Minnesota.  That's unless the courts get involved, occasionally overturning these measures.

There's also the possibility that Obama and Biden made their positions known for political reasons.   You see, gay and lesbian groups along with those who hold the keys to the entertainment industry have been known to write big, fat checks to Democrats they want to see remain in office.  And the President just recently started his own Super PAC, so . . .

It's interesting to see how Obama's views on gays and lesbians have changed over the past four years, from being against same-sex marriage to admitting that his positions have been "evolving" to outright support.  It also doesn't hurt his reputation among gays and lesbians that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy was allowed to fade like old soldiers.

Whether you believe that gays and lesbians need all the support they can get, or if they're aliens from another planet who pose a national security threat, you have to agree that America is changing.  How this change will affect President Obama's re-election chances this fall remains to be seen.