Tony Perkins, president of the
Christian conservative Family Research Council (FRC), attempted
Thursday to console gay marriage foes battered by losses over the
last year.
Perkins attempted to suggest that the
worst was over for opponents and that a victory in Indiana would help
turn the tide.
“Plenty of states have been
processing down the same-sex marriage aisle. But according to
pundits, that's all about to change,” Perkins
said on his radio program. “Homosexual activists like to say
that momentum is on their side. And until recently, they might have
been right. Sixteen U.S. states now recognize a right to same-sex
marriage. And unfortunately, the Left's success in places like
Hawaii and Illinois have helped feed the lie in America that
homosexual marriage is inevitable. But don't believe it, say
experts. All we've witnessed lately is the Left taking advantage of
easy targets. With the exception of West Virginia, none of the other
34 states are under Democratic control. That means the Left's
toughest battles are yet to come. And in places like Indiana, the
tide may already be turning. State liberals are rushing to play
defense while a marriage protection amendment works its way to the
statewide ballot. So be encouraged. Not all same-sex wedding bills
are leading to wedding bells.”
While Republicans control all three
branches of government in Indiana, they have signaled hesitancy to
press ahead with a final vote needed to put a referendum banning gay
marriage on next year's ballot. Polling shows that only 38 percent
of Hoosiers favor amending the Indiana Constitution to prohibit gay
couples from marrying.
(Related: Opposition
to Indiana's proposed gay marriage ban increases 4 points.)
Additionally, a win for foes in Indiana
would not reduce the number of states where same-sex marriage is
legal. However, events in New Mexico and Oregon are expected to move
those two states into the marriage equality column within the next 11
months.