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Was Your State on the Right Side of History?

Posted by on Feb 3, 2012 in U.S. | 32 comments

Here’s the thing – federal marriage equality for same-sex couples is inevitable. Yes, we still have our work cut out for us, but one need only look at American history books to see that we’ve danced this dance over and over again.

What were once shocking societal mores eventually become accepted and embraced cultural norms. Slavery, male-only education, interracial marriage bans, the lack of women’s voting rights – these shameful blots on our nation’s heritage were once unifying rallying cries for those who sought to hold America back from equality much in the way homophobes fight against LGBT rights today.

We’ll win this in the end, because that’s what those seeking equal treatment under the law do – they win. 

Hate groups like the National Organization for Marriage or hell, even New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have at times said that marriage equality should be put to a vote, and not introduced into law by the legislature or judicial system. Here’s why that terrible argument is nonsense.

If ending slavery had been put to a vote by the public, the vote itself wouldn’t have even taken place in half of the country!

For those of you who believe that the totally obvious parallel between civil rights and gay rights doesn’t exist, chew on this next map instead.

Again, had women’s rights – including the right to vote – been put to a public vote, an entirely different half of the country would have been blocked from participating. Women themselves!

Marriage equality is coming, and sooner than later at that. The question here is not will it arrive, but when. So take a peek at your state on these two maps and let us know in the comments which side of history your state has stood on when it comes to equality, the right or the wrong.

(via ilovecharts)