In the wake of last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges making marriage equality the law of the land in all 50 states, the American public has turned its gaze toward the crop of GOP presidential hopefuls and their reactions to the decision. Most pundits and potential voters did so with an expectation that shrewd Republican primary candidates will respond in one of two ways: Give in to marriage equality, or at the very least get out of the way.
Put differently, there’s an assumption that the GOP will greet the dawn of national marriage equality with apathy at best and resistance, hostility and obstinacy at worst. These expectations fail to consider the fact that there’s a compelling conservative case for marriage equality — and a growing number of common-sense conservatives beginning to understand.
Log Cabin Republicans is the nation’s largest coalition of gay and lesbian Republicans and conservative allies. Members of LCR frequently confront incredulity from peers — and especially from those on the gay Left — who consider our existence oxymoronic.
However, there is no conflict between being a faithful conservative and an advocate of civil marriage equality for committed same-sex couples.
Log Cabin Republicans asserts that supporting marriage equality is an intuitive extension of the conservative doctrines of limited government and individual freedom. We defend marriage equality because of — and not in spite of — our Republican ideologies.
Consider, for example, the economic benefits of nationwide marriage equality. Legally recognizing the unions of committed same-sex couples grants these Americans access to the financial advantages of marriage, including lucrative tax benefits. Extending equal financial incentives to same-sex marriages thus encourages gay and lesbian spouses to rely more on each other for fiscal support, rather than government aid.
Economics aside, codifying the institution of same-sex marriage strengthens and also dignifies these relationships. The affirmation of committed, loving partnerships is consistent with the conservative conviction that strong and stable family units strengthen public life.
More and more Republicans are espousing these types of conservative arguments for civil marriage equality. New polling shows nearly 40 percent of Republicans agree that gay and lesbian couples should have the freedom to legally marry. This rate of support might seem modest, but it represents a meaningful shift in Republican attitudes: In 2011, only 14 percent of the party supported civil marriage equality. That means GOP approval of marriage equality has nearly tripled — an increasing of almost 180 percent — in just four years.
In the 2016 presidential primaries and general election, Republican candidates will be forced to navigate a conservative voter bloc that is increasingly divided on the marriage issue. A February survey of likely GOP primary and caucus voters shows that some Republicans consider opposition to same-sex marriage a deal-breaker when choosing a presidential candidate.
In New Hampshire and South Carolina, a majority (52 percent) of likely Republican primary voters said that opposition to marriage equality was either “mostly” or “totally” unacceptable in a candidate. (You read that right: South Carolina.) Nearly half (47 percent) of likely Iowa caucus voters agreed.
The suggestion that Republican candidates have two choices — to either fight the Supreme Court ruling or greet the decision with a shrug — ignores an emerging political reality: Republicans increasingly reject candidates who oppose marriage equality and insist that mere apathy on this issue isn’t good enough.
There are, of course, still members of the party who disagree with civil marriage equality. Polling shows 48 percent of Republicans say they would support a constitutional amendment to undo the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. But the fact remains that this attitude is no longer a consensus within the GOP — and certainly not among the greater American public, where 57 percent of registered voters favor allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry. Politically, pushing for such an amendment would be, in the words of Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Lindsey Graham, “a process that’s not going to bear fruit.”
Looking toward 2016 and beyond, the need for conservative compromises on marriage equality will only grow more urgent. The next generation of conservative voters and leaders strongly support marriage equality. Most millennial Republicans (61 percent) believe in it.
Whether or not the Republican presidential nominee supports marriage equality, he or she ought to respectfully and inclusively recognize those members of the Republican Party who support it. Because where disagreements on same-sex marriage exist, faithful conservatives can still find common ground on issues such as tax reform and national defense.
A Big Tent Republican Party that unites conservatives around these shared interests is the best way to take back the White House. After all, elections are won when voters are multiplied — not when parties are divided.
Gregory T. Angelo is executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
