Over the coming days and weeks, pundits will be exploring what the 2012 election meant. One thing that is certain, the election demonstrated the days of LGBT people being invisible, or worse, a wedge issue, are over.
For same-sex couples in Maine, Maryland and Washington, marriage equality became a reality through the ballot box. These three states are the first to ensure marriage equality directly from the voters.
Minnesota voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have further banned marriage equality, breaking a 30-state streak of constitutional amendments that limit marriage equality.
Supporters of equality, like President Barack Obama, won reelection, even after publically supporting full equality, including marriage equality for LGBT people.
And amazing numbers of LGBT people were elected to national, state, and local offices, providing visibility and leadership for the country, and being elected while being out about their LGBT identity.
The LGBT movement partnered successfully with other progressive campaigns, leading to wins that will protect LGBT people, as well as other minority groups. Minnesota rejected a strict voter ID constitutional amendment, which had the possibility of disenfranchising LGBT voters, as well as other minority groups, students, and seniors. Additionally, LGBT advocates supported the Maryland version of the DREAM Act, which was also supported by LGBT advocates.
Millions of people voted to be on the right side of history. As we said to our constituency, “Equality for LGBT people is no longer a partisan issue but an issue of human dignity. And we at GLAAD will not stop until full equality is a reality for everyone.”
Leading up to Election Day, GLAAD worked to counter and expose anti-LGBT activists as they spent countless hours and millions of dollars spreading misinformation about LGBT families. GLAAD also brought the stories of loving and committed couples and our allies to voters across Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, helping Americans better understand the families at the heart of Tuesday's votes.
For more election news, visit www.glaad.org/vote