Editorial from the San Jose Mercury News

Editorial: Waiting til 2012 on gay marriage? Wise move
Mercury News Editorial
Posted: 08/13/2009 08:00:00 PM PDT


The day Californians overturn Proposition 8 can't come too soon. But the decision by Equality California, the state's largest gay-rights group, to delay going back to the ballot until 2012 makes perfect sense from a strategic viewpoint.

Advocates of same-sex marriage can't afford another loss with state voters, and political experts agree that there's a better chance of success in 2012 rather than 2010. Polls show support for the right of gays to marry is growing, and two more years provide advocates with time to build on that trend. In addition, younger voters tend to support marriage equality, and they're more likely to vote in the 2012presidential election.

California voters were wrong to deny a minority the equal rights that only marriage confers under state law. They should have been leading the nation in this movement, which someday will be looked upon the same way America now views granting civil rights to racial minorities: How could we ever have done otherwise?

But if waiting another two years means a surer victory, then it's the right thing to do.