Equality Fairfax

Though Maine’s rejection of equality is disappointing this article is worth reading as it shows how acceptance of marriage equality is growing throughout the county. That article also links to a paper that is the source for the charts.

Here in Virginia, support for same sex marriage has grown from 25% in 1994 to about 38% in 2008. That still puts us seriously below a majority but it’s interesting to note that the anti-marriage amendment vote had roughly 42% “no” votes. So, even some people who don’t support marriage equality didn’t support a constitutional amendment to discriminate.

Looking at it by age group, the 18-29 year old group, in 2008 here in Virginia were 55-60% in favor of marriage equality. This speaks volumes in terms of how long Virginia’s institutionalized homophobia will last.

Virginia has often been listed as one of the most homophobic states in the country, but, at least by the data represented in this paper, we are in the middle of the pack. We have had some of the most homophobic legislators but this paper shows that this attitude doesn’t exist in the general population to the same degree is has in the General Assembly. Alabama’s citizens would appear to be the least in favor of marriage equality and this article in the Advocate shows how very much alive that homophobia is when a principal will cancel a prom rather than let two lesbians attend as a couple.