Same-Sex Marriage Graph

Every once in a while, when same-sex marriage opponents are threatening repeal in my home state, or when anti-gay activists are claiming that somehow birds are dying because people can be openly gay and in the military, it is nice to look at charts like these and have it reenforced that progress is being made.

Sick & Busy & Quick Interesting News Roundup

So, I've been non-stop busy...and then, when I finally got a chance to rest, I got sick. Isn't that the way it goes?

There have been lots of things that I've been wanting to blog about, though.

1) NH made national news! But, it is because one of our largest newspapers, out of our biggest cities, refuses to publish engagement and wedding announcements for same-sex couples. And, then, The Union Leader claims that this is not because it is "anti-gay." Which begs the question, can you be pro-gay but anti-same sex marriage? I would say no.

2) Juan Willians was fired from NPR. And, now, the question becomes, can you be fired for being intolerant? NPR is arguing yes, but conservatives, in an ironic twist, are on the side of free speech. I initially sided with my beloved NPR, but, the more I consider, the less sure I become. Certainly, if Juan Williams was voicing his opinion of being pro-choice or pro-same-sex marriage, I would not want him fired for expressing those opinions. So, can a journalist not express opinions, or can they not express intolerant opinions? The jury is still out - and NPR's funding is hopefully not in danger.

3) Sanity was restored, for a day. And, if anything, it produced some signs and poked fun at the ludicrousness of the tea party movement. But, will it encourage all of those people to not be apathetic about voting and keep liberals in political offices? Who knows.

Acceptance of Same-Sex Marriage

Gay marriage is slowly becoming more and more accepted, according to the Pew Research Center. The question is; does this represent attitudes changing or does it represent older members of society dying off and the younger generation's liberalism?

I'm really hoping that some of it, at least, includes changes in attitudes: I'd like to believe that people are willing to examine the evidence, notice that gay people are neither evil nor are they causing the downfall of the 'traditional' family, and then alter their beliefs.