by Suzanne Bowdey, The Washington Stand
The last three years have been a humbling experience for Pride. What was once an over-the-top rainbow blow-out has been dialed back a stunning degree, thanks to the colossal wave of public pushback. It’s been a sucker-punch for LGBT activists, who’ve been dumbfounded by the complete reversal of fortunes. Corporate sponsorships have dried up, local organizations are filing Chapter 11, red states are going on the offensive with June alternatives, and Republican support for same-sex marriage is in a dizzying freefall.
In one of the most dramatic sea changes, millions of Americans are walking away from what Obergefell unleashed on the nation in 2015. According to the latest Gallup poll, just released Wednesday, only 37% of Republicans now say same-sex marriage should be legal — a whopping 18-point drop since 2022 (55%). While Democrats still strongly back the redefinition of marriage at 87%, skeptical Independents and the GOP are driving the country’s numbers down to 65% support overall, 6% lower than 2022 and 2023. In at least 11 states, legislators have even introduced bills to roll back same-sex marriage.