Yes, the threat of a backlash is real, and what's happening in San Francisco may turn out to be a "Prague Spring," forcibly put down and triggering a round of state repression far worse than what preceded it (i.e., passage of the noxious Federal Marriage Amendment). This is the view held by leading Democratic liberals, including Massachusetts' Congressman Barney Frank and California's two senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.
But the 3,000-plus marriages performed in San Francisco are still awe-inspiring. From now on, when religious conservatives want to promote their marriage ban, they"ll be advocating using state power to nullify actual marriages (even if only recognized by the SF city government), and the thousands more to join them when Massachusetts starts issuing licenses in the spring (which will be recognized by the state government).
And there's already a snowball effect in evidence. As the New York Post reports:
In New Mexico, meanwhile, the Sandoval County clerk married a lesbian couple after announcing that the state had no legal grounds to refuse marriage licenses to gays. Other same-sex couples quickly began lining up to exchange vows.
And this
week,
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said he would have "no problem" if
Cook County allowed gay marriages. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has
issued a proclamation in favor of treating gay couples the same as
heterosexuals. Mayors in Salt Lake City and Plattsburgh, N.Y., also
have expressed support for same-sex marriage.
Oh, and support was also expressed by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk.
Awesome.