Movement toward same-sex marriage (SSM), LGBT equality etc.

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2012-MAY: President Obama, and others,
announce personal support of SSM. Reactions.

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Background:

The Obama administration announced on 2011-FEB-23 that it would no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. They cited an earlier decision in a Massachusetts federal court that found multiple reasons why the federal DOMA legislation violates the U.S. Constitution and is thus invalid.

This was followed by an increase in events -- some important, some minor, some merely symbolic -- that indicate a gradual evaporation of animosity, animus, and homophobia against sexual minorities.

Perhaps the most influential were a series of personal statements on three successive days in 2012-MAY during TV interviews by Vice President Joe Biden, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and President Obama. Each announced that he is personally in favor of marriage equality.

Reactions were many, strong, and polarized.

Topics covered in this section:

• Part 1: Announcements by VP Biden, Education Secreatary Duncan and President Obama
  
  
• Part 2: Reactions by U.S. politicians, political commentators & religious leaders
  
  
• Part 3: Mostly negative reactions by conservative Christian religious leaders
  
  
• Part 4: Still more reactions, mostly by U.S. religious leaders; some positive.
  
  
• Part 5: A range of reactions by African Americans and Canadians

How you got here:

Copyright © 2012 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.
First posted: 2012-MAY-14
Latest update: 2012-MAY-14
Author: B.A. Robinson

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