"The tide is turning" on marriage equality in the US, says Howard Dean

Written by: Joe F on May 29, 2009 12:30 PM EDT

Thursday night Howard Dean attended a fundraiser honoring Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Speaker Pat Murphy, who both fought valiantly for marriage equality in Iowa .  Dean attended the fundraiser almost immediately following his health-care reform town hall meeting earlier that day in Des Moines.

Opponents of gay marriage in Iowa had been pressing legislators to set the wheels in motion to allow a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage in the state, but both Gronstal and Murphy, the two top Democrats in the State house, would not allow it. 

“I've always thought Gronstal and Murphy were terrific people and I know what it takes to stand up for a decision like this and it takes a lot of courage,” said Dean.  “You always want people in public life who have courage."

Dean saw marriage equality in the US as growing closer than ever before, given the changing attitudes and increased participation in politics by the younger generations of Americans.  As the voting population begins to grow with this younger, more accpeting, and more politically active young Americans, the possbilities for much needed change in American politics is quickly approaching.

               "This new generation is not nearly as divisive or confrontational as my generation,” said Dean in an interview with Radio Iowa. “The tide is turning...For this new generation of Americans, this is just one more minority that's stood up for itself and is now being incorporated into the body politic of America with equal rights."

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Location: Burlington, VT