Obama, the Courts, and Gay Marriage

But now, the remarkable new reality for Obama in this election is that supporting marriage equality is smart politics. A majority of independents and young voters already favor equal marriage rights. These are important voting blocks, and a key part of the President's reëlection strategy. Support for gay rights will also help him energize liberals in the Party and others who think he has not acted...

The New Yorker • Dec 20, 2011

Obama and Gay Marriage: Runaway Bride?

But what if this is a case where political calculations are not purely self-interested? What if this is a case where effectiveness--in this instance, effectiveness in the cause of gay equality overall--trumps rhetorical "sincerity"? Suppose Obama had come out for gay marriage a year ago. That would have made him the face of the issue. It would have saddled marriage equality with all the toxic Tea ...

The New Yorker • Jul 6, 2011

Three Tips for Future Same-Sex Marriage Fights

1. To pass a bill, you need a governor, probably a Democrat, who is willing to do more than just say he'll sign it. An article in Monday's Times detailed New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's one-on-one campaign aimed at undecided legislators: " 'I can help you,' Mr. Cuomo reassured them in dozens of telephone calls and meetings, at times pledging to deploy his record-high popularity across the state t...

The New Yorker • Jun 28, 2011

A Risky Proposal: Is it too soon to petition the Supreme Court on gay marriage?

On January 11th, a remarkable legal case opens in a San Francisco courtroom--on its way, it seems almost certain, to the Supreme Court. Perry v. Schwarzenegger challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the California referendum that, in November, 2008, overturned a state Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex couples to marry. Its lead lawyers are unlikely allies: Theodore B. Olson, the...

The New Yorker • Jan 9, 2010

(Proposition) Eight is enough

...

The New Yorker • Nov 24, 2008