The Power of Unions

The Duluth News Tribune reports that labor unions in Wisconsin are working to defeat the gay marriage ban currently being considered there.

Labor unions are joining forces to fight a proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions in what could become a powerful force in the Nov. 7 referendum.

The groups, representing employees ranging from teachers to prison workers, say they are worried the amendment will take away their ability to bargain for benefits such as health insurance for the domestic partners of gay and straight employees.

They are making donations, organizing volunteers and educating their members as part of their attempts to make Wisconsin the first state to defeat a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

It's about time that the left got itself together. After spending too many years as a loose collection of single issue advocates, the Democratic Party has realized that if we're going to be successful, we need to actively support all Progressive goals.

Wisconsin's largest teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, gave $25,000 to a group fighting the ban. Other unions also gave amounts between $1,000 and $5,000. WEAC's President, Stan Johnson, acknowledged the fact that support by the organizations doesn't mean every union worker will vote against the ban. Still, the idea that these bigoted efforts to drive the Republican Base will affect everybody is an important one. Perhaps some people that aren't motivated to go to the polls to vote against the ban by altruism will make the effort to go vote to protect their own interests.

I predict that we'll start to see Gay Marriage Bans fail in the coming years. I wish I could say that this would be a reflection of changing attitudes in America. That's probably a part of the reason, but the biggest reason will be that all the 'low hanging fruit' has already been picked. Alabama, Kansas, and other deep red states have the bans. As homobigots work to spread their hate to more Progressive states, they'll have less success.

Watch for the GOP to trot out 'Gay adoption' or 'Gay parenting' as the new fronts in their campaign of hate.

Wisconsin Unions Gay Marriage