We’re America — the land of the free and home of the brave. While we’ve certainly lived up to our reputation as the “home of the brave,” we’ve been lacking in the freedom department for some time.

Fortunately, the push for more widespread marriage equality continues, as Hawaii and New Mexico are poised to become the 14th and 15th states to legalize same-sex marriage. It appears we are making progress in ending this form of discrimination.

Last Friday, the New Mexico Supreme Court announced it will decide if same-sex marriage should be legal statewide after several counties have started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

New Mexico is unique in that its laws neither expressly allow nor prohibit same-sex marriage.

On Monday, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie called for a special legislative session to move forward on a bill that would legalize gay marriage. Hawaii currently allows civil unions between same-sex couples.

The special session of the Hawaii State Legislature is set to begin Oct. 28.

If Hawaii and New Mexico indeed become the 14th and 15th states to allow gay marriage, this will have been a productive year in the fight for marriage equality. Such an expansion of equal rights would be welcome in a nation that prides itself on the freedom it affords its citizens.

What’s sad is that it has taken us this long to get to even this point. The fight for marriage equality has been arduous, but there is reason to hope that success lies ahead.

We’ve seen only relatively incremental victories until this year, when the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for more widespread acceptance of same-sex marriage by overturning key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8.

Currently, approximately 30 percent of the American population lives in areas where same-sex marriage is legal, according to The Atlantic.
We still have a long way to go.

Even in the past four years, though, public opinion on the issue has shifted dramatically. A 2009 Gallup poll found support for marriage equality at only 40 percent.

Then, a July 2013 Gallup poll found that support had risen to 52 percent — more than double the support of the first Gallup poll on the subject taken in 1996.

It’s incredibly encouraging to see the American public begin to embrace the ideals of equality and liberty for which our nation has long stood and fought.
For too long we’ve treated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans as second-class citizens by denying them the rights enjoyed by those who happen to love someone of the opposite sex.

What’s even sadder is that opponents of same-sex marriage have long used religious doctrine to justify their support of discrimination.
The staunchest opponents will likely say that same-sex marriage goes against God’s will and that its legalization will only bring judgment upon our nation.

But these tired, old arguments have been used to oppose nearly every just social cause through our history, including the freeing of slaves, granting rights to women and allowing interracial couples to marry.

Opponents of these causes have been on the wrong side of history time and again, and it’s very likely that opponents of marriage equality will long be remembered as standing on the wrong side, as well.

Advocates for same-sex marriage must remain mindful that such social change is not easy. It never has been.

But progress has been made at an increasing rate, and that’s something for which to be hopeful.

The ball is in your court, Hawaii and New Mexico. Do the right thing.

David Swenton is a senior political science and writing and rhetoric major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at daswento@syr.edu or followed on Twitter at @DavidSwenton.

Published on September 11, 2013 at 1:28 am