Before I leave for vacation, here's a link to Chris Crain's
Washington Blade editorial, "A
Tale of Two Parties." Crain notes the deafening silence on gay
issues in the speeches delivered at both political conventions,
even as their respective party platforms (tailored mainly to
appease activists) took stands strongly in favor (Democrats) or
opposed to (Republicans) gay rights. He then asks:
So if gay issues are so important, why won't [either party] engage the general public on them? Because both parties fear the risks outweigh the benefits.
He also observes:
Conservative groups have aggressively pressured the GOP not to remain quiet on gay issues. That's the only reason why President Bush endorsed the [Federal Marriage Amendment] to begin with.... Gay rights groups, meanwhile, have taken their marching orders directly from the Democratic National Committee and the Kerry/Edwards campaign, giving the party a "pass" on marriage equality and over-investing resources on the presidential race.
And he adds, sensibly:
...our movement must focus on persuading fair-minded moderates from both parties, along with independents. And we should be pressuring the Democrats to do the same because otherwise they clearly won't."
I'd go further: politics is the sphere in which society's
acceptance of gays will be ratified, not the primary forum in which
advances will first be made. Th relative silence from both sides --
at least at the presidential campaign level -- will give way as we
continue our advances in the workplace, in the media, and in all
the institutions of civil society. Then it will be the politicians'
turn to play catch up.