As social issues such as gay rights become more and more polarizing, and continue to be on the forefront of publications and news networks, it’s hard to not ask yourself:
“Why is this still an issue?”
That statement is not made to dismiss or neglect the activism of millions of Americans who unfortunately still can’t get married due to antiquated legislation (what year is it, again?) But could it be that these issues are unresolved not because of religious ideals mixing with social progression, but because both parties gain from them remaining in limbo?
Both the Democratic and Republican parties use this social issues, such as gay rights, as platforms, a sail to cast for their own motives, garner attention and most importantly, get money.
Just last month Ohio Senator Rob Portman announced that he is in support of gay marriage. Although I am thankful for his progressive change of heart, it’s hard to take it as a moral decision after he co-sponsored a nationwide ban on gay marriage in 1996, and then later voted for a measure to prohibit gay couples in Washington D.C from adopting children. For Portman, this radical swap of ideals could pull from a new pool of voters, the young demographic who emphasize social issues, and special interest groups previously untouched.
It’s hard to believe that systematic politicians, (ones that stay in office, and the revolving door of both the public and the private sector) really care where the social barometer resides on contemporary issues. As long as money is acquired and their office terms are still intact, most will go either way.They only care where it sits if it still lets them sit in office.
Last year, four Republican New York senators backed a vote allowing same-sex marriages in the state. According to The New York Times report, those Republican senators each received almost half a million dollars in fundraising in the six month period after supporting the vote, and for Senator Roy Mcdonald, one of the Republican backers, that was 27 times more than what he raised in 2009.
A few years ago, staying on the anti gay marriage stance could generally get people to rally behind you, but it is dwindling. In 2008, California had Proposition 8, which accumulated a combined total of $73 million in support of or for against same-sex marriage, which was the highest campaign funding in the nation that year besides the presidential race.
And It’s not only Republicans who are using rights for agendas, but Democrats as well.
Last May when President Barack Obama publicly endorsed gay marriage, he acquired $1 million in just 90 minutes after the announcement. What a simple way to spark interest in his campaign leading up to his second term, where many young people and particularly the gay demographic felt abandoned during his first term, and at the same time also gain a huge sum of financial support.
It’s similar to the news Americans received in 2003 regarding Iraq having “weapons of mass destruction.” Politicians can quote the Bible and say it’s “immoral” or “against nature” but ultimately they are using it as fallacy to further promote your agenda to gain support monetarily.
Eventually, everyone will have particular rights given to them, but its unfortunate that it has taken this long for it to occur. That money, political standings and ratings have taken precedent over fellow Americans garnering the same rights as everyone else.
The point of the argument is simply that these values which are supposed to be embedded within a person beliefs can be switched when the dollar sign or when the re-election calendar appears. Where is the value of that original belief? What was the whole point in their original stance? It’s the same reason they switched sides; chasing the fundraising dollar. It’s smart, yet downright deceptive to the American public.
This is not only subject to gay rights, but whatever social issue our nation is facing. I believe our political leaders use people’s beliefs, ideals and fears, and mold them to fit their agenda, and their checkbooks.
