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Today’s numbers - And a quote

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* From UCLA’s Williams Institute, which used US Census data in its estimates…

With the passage of marriage equality legislation in Minnesota, 18% of the entire U.S. population and 22% of same-sex couples now live in the 12 states, and the District of Columbia, where same-sex couples can legally marry. In 2009, only 3% of the U.S. population and 5% of same-sex couples lived in marriage equality states.

If Illinois extended marriage to same-sex couples, and the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Prop. 8 in California, more than 4 in 10 same-sex couples (or 41%) would live in the 14 states and the District of Columbia where they could legally marry. Thirty-four percent of the entire U.S. population would also live in marriage equality states.

* A handy graph…

* From Peter LaBarbera, head of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality…

Just like with abortion, we now see Catholic and Protestant politicians alike who defy the tenets of their own faith to pander to the well-funded Homosexual Lobby. Oh yes, when it’s campaign season, they’re “religious.” But down in Springfield, it’s another matter. Some day these phony-baloney politicians like Mike Madigan will learn the hard way that God is not mocked.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:15 am

Comments

The sea-change in attitudes on this issue in just a few years has been striking. Opposition to seat-belt and no-smoking laws seemed to linger longer.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:20 am
This is a chart only a Census wonk cares about. LOL. But there’s probably more of us here than the average blog. And there’s a “my prediction is that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow” angle to this story that people tend to settle where they feel most comfortable, all other things being equal.

Actually, looking forward to the 2012 Municipalities and Minor Civil Divisions estimates which are to be released at 12:01 am on Thursday, May 23. Lucky media folks like Rich can get it 2 days ahead if they are on the US Census embargo register, as long as they promise not to spill the beans ahead of time.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:28 am
“defy the tenets of their own faith”

Oh come on, how many people follow every rule of the Bible? How many conservatives who oppose gay marriage would actually “turn the other cheek” and let an assailant attack them again, or lend something without expecting payback?

These people select the parts of religion they want everyone else to follow, yet they don’t follow every rule themselves. I believe the correct word is “hypocrisy.”

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:30 am
Sorry, I would like to make a clarification. It’s not only conservatives who oppose gay marriage, but in this case let’s just say religious people who oppose gay marriage. Democratic voters also are against gay marriage for religious reasons. I didn’t mean to single out only conservatives.

My bad.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:33 am
I don’t know what Mr. LaBarbera is talking about.

Madigan can mock himself if he wants.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:40 am
Genesis 1:27 –

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

This includes homosexuals. Don’t people like LaBarbera realize they are rejecting God’s image when they reject homosexuals?

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:40 am
That “learn the hard way that God is not mocked” line is a dive into Westboro Baptist territory.

Comment by In 630 Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:42 am
It seems none of these groups have read 1984 because they don’t understand that when you put “Truth” in the title of your organization or seminar name most folks realize you’re going to be lying to them

Comment by danlinn Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:46 am
- It seems none of these groups have read 1984 -

To me it seems that these folks all read 1984 and thought certain parts sounded like a great idea.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:50 am
Legislators are just following the Russell Ziskey doctrine:

“No, our state doesn’t have homosexual marriage, but we are willing to learn!”

Comment by Happy Returns Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:52 am
I took a gander at Mr. LaBarbera’s kooky website. I encourage all of you to do so. You’ll get an idea of how far out there this guy is. And what is really scary is that there are plenty of people like him.

I suppose I will see a lot of people who support gay marriage in hell. That seems to be the place Mr. LaBarbera thinks we are headed.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:54 am
My all-time favorite line from these fundamentalist types: “God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve!”

Sure, sure, but didn’t Adam and Eve only have two sons (Cain and Abel)? Mind. Blown.

Comment by The Muse Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:55 am
I especially liked “learn the hard way that God is not mocked.” Does LaBarbera have a webcam to heaven and hell or perhaps an occasional Instagram from on high? Just what “learn the hard way” punishment is meted out in his tiny, tiny, tiny mind? Oh wait…I meant his tiny, tiny, tiny heart.

Comment by Mongo Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 9:56 am
Grandson, there are plenty of people of faith who do not oppose gay marriage as well.

People like LaBarbera have quite a self-reverent egomania to presume God’s judgement.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:01 am
We can thus presume that Mr. LaBarbera does not eat pork or shellfish, right?

Comment by Northsider Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:08 am
Muse,
Read Genesis 5:4

The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters.

Mind still intact. LOL

Comment by reelpro Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:12 am
“Mike Madigan will learn the hard way that God is not mocked.”

God is actually a little afraid of Madigan.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:12 am
That’s Adam and Stephen, to quote the late great David Rakoff.

Oh, and I presume Mr. LaBarbera would never wear a poly-cotton blend.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:14 am
Like Demoralized, I took a gander at Mr. LaBarbera’s website and it recalled for me a poster I saw years ago in front of a Unitarian Church: “The arrogance of certainty is the enemy of wisdom.” Mr. LaBarbera might want to consider that message.

Comment by Peoria Pete Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:19 am
Mr. LaBarbera, we are not mocking God, we are mocking you. You shouldn’t confuse yourself with God….we certainly haven’t.

Comment by Chevy owner/Ford County Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:24 am
Wordslinger,

Yes of course, I agree with you. I didn’t mean to imply that there aren’t religious people who support gay marriage. Many religious leaders are in the forefront of SSM legalization.

The religious leaders who oppose SSM in no way speak for those who support it, even though they try to.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:33 am
Actually, why don’t we see a more significant bit of data- how many same sex marriages are there? I think folks (folks on this blog at least) would be surprised at how few there are.

Comment by Conservative Republican Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:49 am
===would be surprised at how few there are. ===

If that’s the case, then why do you care?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:52 am
“I think folks (folks on this blog at least) would be surprised at how few there are.”

I don’t think it’s surprising at all that, after being kept out of a “club” for most of one’s life, there might be a little reticence to want to run out and join it the minute membership is opened up. Doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be opened.

Comment by ChicagoR Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:57 am
CR, assuming you are correct in that statistic, what’s your point?
You do know SSM is not legal in 38 states, which would tend to reduce the number of marriages.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 10:58 am
==God is actually a little afraid of Madigan.==

No, but sometimes He acts like He think’s He’s the Speaker.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 11:28 am
So, is LaBarbera in support of plural marriage? This could become a long post of all the places where our laws do not align with the Bible, but I think my time is better spent in the garden.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 12:41 pm
It would be curious to know how the percentage for same-sex couples was arrived at would be worth knowing. Also, while it is easy to assert that public opinion is changing to favor SSM, it needs to be remembered that Illinois and the United States is a representative government, not a plebiscite. The will of the people will not necessarily translate into policy change.

Comment by Downstater Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 1:40 pm
– God is not mocked–

coming from someone who seems to think they talk for God… or at least their version of god, maybe their own personal Jesus?

Comment by Ahoy! Thursday, May 16, 13 @ 4:38 pm
…”God is not mocked….” Yeah, dude, I SUPOPSE in a LOT of ways that may be true, but it’s pretty presumptuous of LaBarbera to have that direct channel to the Almighty God’s thinking on this issue. I’d back off if I were you, man, ‘cuz the Almighty just MAY not concur with your supposedly omniscient viewpoint, and ya never know what consequences might befall one who upsets the Creator of the Universe…!

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Comment by diet supplements Thursday, May 30, 13 @ 3:56 pm