The Economic Crisis vs. Gay Rights Issues....Really?

One would think (or hope, in some cases) that the setbacks in California and Maine would deter gay rights advocates from continuing the fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage but really, it hasn't. Governor David A. Paterson is trying to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York.

Nevertheless opponents of gay marriage are not sitting back just celebrating their victories. One of the loudest--if not the loudest--opponent of same-sex marriage, Senator Rubén Díaz Sr is often able to produce results against such legislation because of the Democrats' fragile majority in the Senate. Along with several colleagues, Senator Rubén Díaz Sr argues that gay rights legislature should not be allowed to reach the floor. With more pressing issues like the crumbling economy, should gay rights, which are arguably less urgent, be postponed for later?

As Kingdon stresses in Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, policy windows are only open for a short amount of time and therefore, policy entrepreneurs should focus on providing alternatives to the crisis that the American economy is currently undergoing. Although Senator Rubén Díaz Sr would disagree, the reality is that gay rights are important and therefore, such bills and policies like the one Gov. David A. Paterson is trying to pass in favor of same-sex marriage will inevitably come up in the policy stream again---pushing for it now when everyone's attention is on the economy will only limit the amount of support people are willing to offer the movement. Regardless of one's position on same-sex marriage, the smartest move gay rights advocates could make right now is to wait for the fiscal crisis to be somewhat ameliorated if they want to have any hope in getting the most support for their cause.