Same-sex marriage came before the Supreme Court this morning in Washington D.C. as the justices heard arguments for and against California’s Proposition 8. Tomorrow, the court will consider the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
One issue of concern surrounding Proposition 8 is the question of voters deciding on states’ rights and what happens if such a vote violates the protections of civil rights that are written into the Constitution. Observers note the attention for this particular issue will most likely fall onto Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is often seen as the swing vote in cases such as these.
Civil rights and states’ rights notwithstanding, same-sex marriage is still a contentious issue in American public opinion. However, several new polls demonstrate a dramatic swing in favor of same-sex marriage in the last decade, including one from Washington Post-ABC News that shows support at an all-time high– from 41 percent in 2004 to 58 percent in 2013. Nate Silver also conducted an analysis based on current voting trends and made state-by-state projections through 2020.
For more on the issue of same-sex marriage, check out our coverage on FORA.tv and watch the following video from director Rob Reiner who believes the Supreme Court will vote in favor of gay rights and was the first in line to watch this morning’s public arguments.
Rob Reiner: ‘Supreme Court Will Approve Gay Marriage’ from Commonwealth Club on FORA.tv