Why Gay Marriage Gains Can Influence Other Politics
A lot of the reasons that gay marriage gains are perceived as necessary is because of how many societal privileges are conferred upon those who are married - health insurance, tax breaks, estate rights, etc. The symbolic value is obviously important, but the material benefits are the reason why it’s not even a question that it’s a necessary step. Reciprocally, however, can marriage and civil union rights also increase GLBT gains in other areas? It’s a question that I hadn’t previously contemplated, but the wake of New Hampshire civil unions seems to indicate that the answer is yes.
Discussing photo opportunities with the Human Rights Campaign, Bay Windows outlines a number of ways that the GLBT community is now being felt throughout New Hampshire more specifically because of the marriage gains and increased political visibility throughout New Hampshire. As they argue,
Though brief, the exchange is symbolic of an unprecedented effort by the LGBT community to make its presence felt in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire during this presidential election cycle. In the Granite State, for instance, HRC for the first time opened a field office in Concord from which Gibson, a veteran New Hampshire political operative, corralled volunteers to hit the campaign trail and engage candidates on LGBT issues. The organization last summer also brought a panel of LGBT military veterans to the state to discuss the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that turned out a number of local politicos.
What other ways can the marriage debate help GLBT folks make other political gains?
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