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The Political Causes Of The Gay Marriage Culture Change

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The Political Causes of the Gay Marriage Culture Change
On June 26, 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges was decided, and same-sex marriage would be legalized throughout the United States. President Barack Obama promptly called the plaintiff, Jim Obergefell, to congratulate him and his partner on their legal victory:
We're really proud of you. Just know that, you know, not only have you been a great example for people, but you're also going to bring about a lasting change in this country. And it's pretty rare where that happens. So I couldn't be prouder of you and your husband. God bless you. (as qtd. in Scott, 2016)
Obama’s glaring support of the Obergefell decision belies his earlier sentiments in 2010. When asked his stance on gay marriage five years earlier, President Obama claimed he was against it, but stated, “I’m wrestling with this. My attitudes are evolving on this” (as qtd. in Kerry, 2015). The facts don’t lie: President Obama did a complete 180 in his views on same-sex marriage, from timid indifference to bold support. Obama was not alone in this change of heart. In fact, he was in good company. A 2017 Pew Research study found that nearly 30% of Americans changed their minds in less than two decades. In 2001, a mere 35% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, but in 2017, a 62% majority of Americans responded in the affirmative (Pew Research Center, 2017). With such a massive shift in opinions over such a short period of time, it should come as no surprise that the most recent presidential candidates vocalized support for same-sex couples, from empty promises to a sharpied pride flag. This raises the question of how it became unthinkable to even think about supporting gay marriage, to how it became next to unthinkable to oppose gay marriage— all in the time span of a decade and a half. The reason behind this sudden change is multifaceted. First, early gay rights activism started to succeed despite all odds, leading to a political avalanche. Secondly, popular political ideologies changed to become more inclusive of LGBT individuals. Finally, gay people became more visible, and society had to learn how to interact with them, resulting in more positive and less stereotyped views of the gay community.

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