Gay marriage stance won’t lose Obama votes

President Barack Obama recently criticized his Republican opponents for not supporting a gay service member of the U.S. Armed Forces at the Sept. 22 GOP presidential debate.

When Stephen Hill, a gay soldier currently serving in Iraq, asked a question via video about the future of serving openly, spectators in the crowd booed him. And worse, not one GOP presidential contender uttered a word of disapproval.

“You want to be commander-in-chief?” Obama said. “You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it’s not politically convenient.”

And yet, Obama has been criticized for his own stance on gay marriage. The President said his views on gay marriage are “evolving,” but currently he supports civil unions, not gay marriage.

Does he even have a leg to stand on?

Yes.

Many, myself included, wish he would go further and publicly support gay marriage. That’s what this country needs — a leader who is committed to true equality.

But Obama’s gay rights résumé is impressive. He successfully repealed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy; he’s the reason the soldier could openly ask the question at the debate.

And his belief in civil unions is a good step. It’s not the end result I’d like to see, but most states haven’t even achieved such progress. A civil union would allow gay couples to have the same legal benefits heterosexual couples enjoy.

Obama also ordered the Justice Department to stop enforcing a law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Even though the president’s biggest group of supporters — young Democrats — is largely in favor of gay marriage, Obama’s unwillingness to commit to it probably won’t hurt him in the election. In fact, it could win him votes from moderates who support equal legal rights but aren’t willing to toss the term “marriage” into it.

Even if Obama’s stance receives lukewarm support among his fan base, it’s not like people are going to choose another candidate because of the issue. Obama’s Republican opponents don’t support gay marriage at all; voting for them would be taking a step in the wrong direction.

Some political analysts think Obama will decide to support gay marriage, but only after the 2012 election, when it can’t hurt his chance of re-election. If the president’s current stance is a way to win votes, he’s making a politically smart, if morally ambiguous, move.

The political candidate of my dreams supports gay marriage. He or she isn’t afraid to stand up for freedom and equality for all citizens. I’m not sure that candidate exists on a national level. There certainly isn’t anyone in the current race who fits the bill.

My hope is that Congress will legalize gay marriage within the next few years, or at the very least, that more states do it individually.

If not, I say give it a couple decades. When my generation is the one in power, gay marriage will be legalized. There are too many people my age who support it. I believe gay marriage will be legalized in my lifetime.

If nothing else, all we have to do is wait.

­— hanns@indiana.edu