Younger Republicans "Evolve" On Gay Marriage

A recent poll shows nearly 40 percent of Republicans ages 18-24 support same-sex marriage. | Reuters

Regardless of how the U. S. Supreme Court rules in the pending gay marriage cases, the Christofascists and "family values" organizations will continue to face a growing menace: younger Republicans who are increasingly supportive of gay marriage.  And as the GOP's base ages and as the elderly component (perhaps) thankfully dies off, this menace will only increase.  At some point, no matter how much folks like Mike Huckabee and Tony Perkins threaten the GOP, it will become untenable for the GOP to maintain its anti-gay positions and policies.  Here are highlights a Politico article that looks at the Christofascists' growing problem:

As the Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage on Tuesday, a growing number of young Republicans are waving the white flag in the culture war over gay weddings — with many opting to focus on economic issues instead.

That shift is evident among conservative youth from GOP college activists to young right-leaning Beltway pundits to heartland churchgoers under 30, political and religious leaders say.

Richard Land, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told POLITICO that young members of his community are no longer interested in vocalizing opposition to same-sex marriage.  .  .  .  . “[They say,] ‘It feels intolerant. We believe what we believe, they have a right to what they want to believe. Marriage should be a church thing, not a legal thing.’”

"There’s a ton of momentum right now,” said Tyler Deaton, the campaign manager for Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, the GOP-friendly branch of the broader Freedom to Marry coalition, which supports gay marriage. The group counts among its members the Huntsman daughters, Meghan McCain and MSNBC talk show host S.E. Cupp.

“For young people … it really is a generational [issue],” said Hamilton, a Leawood, Kan.-based pastor who delivered the sermon at President Barack Obama’s inaugural National Prayer Service. “For the church as a whole, it used to be that people who were raising up gay rights, wanting to change the denomination’s position, were people on the left. Today, it’s not about left and right. It’s about older and younger generations.”

Let's hope that this trend accelerates and that it leaves the Christofascists increasingly in the political wilderness.