My friend Prof. Moss at The Two Body Solution, a blog about gender and popular culture, raises an interesting question: Now that politicians’ affairs have cheapened marriage and various mainstream media channels have effectively declared American marriage dead, are people more willing to open it up to same-sex couples? “Just like the country had to be in the worst economic shape since the Great Depression before we’d let a black man run it,” she opines, “marriage has be perceived as failed and worthless before we’ll share it with gays.”
Another interpretation, of course, is that we think only a black man has what it takes to get us out of this mess, and maybe opening marriage to same-sex couples will similarly save a failing institution. Many of us have managed to stay together despite our lack of rights and recognition, so perhaps we know a thing or two about making relationships work.
I’m not sure which scenario I’d bet on right now. There are also many other reasons people voted for Obama, and many reasons they support marriage equality. Prof. Moss raises a good question, though, and one worth pondering.
Go leave a comment over at Two Body Solution if you have any thoughts on the matter. (It’s a new blog, and I’m sure she and her co-publisher husband would appreciate the traffic. While you’re there, read her rant on Swiffer.)