The Vermont legislature overrides a governor’s veto to pass a gay-marriage bill. Same-sex marriages begin in Iowa, the state legislature and governor balk at banning it, and even state GOP leaders seem lackadaisical in opposition. The New Hampshire legislature approves a gay-marriage bill. The Maine Senate approves it. D.C. recognizes gay marriages from other states, with D.C.’s own recognition of such marriages up next. The Governor of New York pushes a gay-marriage bill, and the state assembly takes it up, having previously voted for it. The legislature in Rhode Island, the “most Catholic state” in the country as one Bishop notes, strongly considers a bill. The Connecticut legislature passes one, after a court decision, and a Republican governor signs it. The Nevada senate approves a near-civil unions bill. A GOP governor in heavily Mormon and deeply red Utah backs civil unions. Colorado approves two laws, one granting significant legal protection to gay and other unmarried couples and one extending benefits to same-sex domestic partners of state employees. And Republican strategists start questioning the party’s opposition to gay marriage. No wonder: For the first time ever, a national poll shows a plurality (49%) for it, while others show significant spikes in support.
All of that has happened within the past month. And, I should add, gay marriages started today in Sweden, the seventh country to recognize them. (HT: Niclas Berggren) April was the kindest month, a blossoming Spring, for gay marriage.
Is all of this a coincidence, or is it evidence of a “bandwagon effect”? Ryan Sager thinks it’s the latter:
The bandwagon effect