Video: Why Gay Marriage is Winning

Last week Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage was
struck down by a federal judge. While same-sex marriage in
the Old Dominion isn’t yet fully legal, the ruling is yet another
sign that those fighting for marriage equality are
winning. 

Back in February of 2012, Reason TV’s Kennedy explained why
libertarian-leaning Republicans have been central to the movement’s
success. 

Original text below:

With Washington state recently
legalizing same-sex unions and
Maryland about to follow suit, gay marriage hasn’t been on this
big a roll since Bert and Ernie first shacked up on Sesame
Street. When Maryland finalizes its bill, seven states and the
District of Columbia will sanction the practice.

But before you bust out the appletinis and Indigo Girls CDs to
celebrate, consider that just last year in Maryland – a deep-blue,
Democratic-majority state when it comes to politics – gay marriage
went down faster than George Michael in a public restroom due to
resistance from socially conservative African Americans in the
Democratic Party. Indeed, while 71 percent of white Democrats in
the Old Line State favor gay marriage,
just 41 percent of black Democrats do.

So what’s different this time around? Democratic
Gov. Martin O’Malley and other pro-marriage legislators took a
page from
New York’s gay playbook and reached around to sympathetic
Republicans to seal the deal.

Inconceivable even a generation ago, gay marriage is well on its
way
to becoming mainstream as a growing majority of Americans now
favor it. The only question is when, not if, folks such as Maryland
residents Justin and Phillip Terry-Smith will join heterosexuals in
the joys of getting married – and divorced – happily ever
after.

About 2.30 minutes. Produced by Joshua Swain. Written by Nick
Gillespie and Kennedy, who also hosts.