All the other times I can think of that people won rights in this country, it was because people radicalized their churches or unions and then linked them up into a movement.
But when I try to look up how gay marriage happened, I’m finding things crediting liberal organizations or important lawyers, if it’s not just passive voice implying the states just started legalizing gay marriage for no particular reason.
So like… what was the actual organizing principle behind that? Who did the pressuring? I figured a bunch of you would know, so I’m asking.
I agree that the sudden sweeping legalization of gay marriage in the west was a curiosity. I’m no scholar on it but I’d like to pose a few thoughts based on what we have witnessed since it transpired:
2a) Immediately solidified progressive-minded people as well as many oppressed minorities as staunch liberals and backers of western empire. Let’s not forget this was between the election and re-election of Obama (first black president).
2b) Further, following on the heels of these bourgeoisie enabled victories - the Trans movement, which has always been around, starts to get an enormous amount of time in the media limelight (Suddenly everyone has to know about Caitlin Jenner and have a virulent opinion on the matter). On top of all of that, Bernie Sanders receives inexplicable media attention as a firebrand socialist around this time rather than getting the typical “media-blackout”. Now we’ve got the red and blue reactionaries pearl-clutching!
Imperialism becomes pink-washed.
Targeted/Algorithmic advertising becomes widespread.
The western political atmosphere trends towards “polarization”.
—Now for my offered speculation based on the above—
Based on what was accomplished I think the strategic goals were to:
Pink-wash imperial aggression: (Targeted advertising is important here): A progressive will receive information about how Israel (etc) is LGBTQ+ friendly democracy (and their opponent is oppressive regarding LGBTQ+ rights) while a conservative will receive boilerplate islamophobia. Domestically, support for warfare is obtained by playing both sides.
Stoking fascism at home: I think this one is fairly obvious - the progressive victories regarding race, sexual identity, and gender expression (coupled with bourgeoisie media’s absolutely cynical commentary on it (driving people into the arms of both the Democrats and the Republicans)) enabled a retrograde pivoting of the Overton window in the long-term. Progressives have been taught that too much change is happening too quickly, so the trans movement must act as the sacrifice made to appease reaction. The Conservatives have been taught that the Anti-Christ occupied the White House and worked with a cabal of ((influential technocrats)) to deliver their beloved Christian empire into the hands of Satan.
As if having a healthy dose of fascism wasn’t enough, the “polarization” has delivered the perfect media framing for Democrats to feign an inability to combat it.
—Final conclusion—
Victory at home and abroad for the bourgeoisie at the typical small cost of short-term concessions in exchange for long-term political dominance.
We didn’t even get a green new deal as a consolation prize.