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I think we've either passed or are very near the tipping point for gay rights in the US. It does, however, take a little hindsight to be able to identify when such changes occur, and it's much more difficult to recognize them as they happen.
Religion shouldn't even be at issue here. Whether one's personal religious beliefs are in opposition to homosexuality should have no effect on the law. My religious beliefs don't hold GLBT people to be sinners. My parents', and those of many religious fundamentalists, do. Upon whose religious beliefs should we base our laws? Well, obviously, nobody's. This is precisely why the establishment clause in the constitution exists, to protect the religious beliefs and practices of the few.
That said, this is not a religious debate. Gay marriage is not a religious debate. There are two forms of marriage in the US, spiritual marriage, which is conducted and recognized by a religious institution, and which exists entirely outside of the government's right to regulate or interfere, and legal marriage, which is that which is recognized by the state and which grants the married couple certain rights and privileges not granted those who are not legally married. The gay marriage debate is solely about legal marriage, and as such, religious views are entirely irrelevant. Religious institutions are free to recognize or refuse to recognize marriages as they see fit. Divorced Catholics can't get married in the church. Certain branches of some religions won't allow members to marry non-members. The legal protection for religious marriage already exists.
As for other areas of gay rights, perhaps it would be helpful to look at places where gay rights are protected. California's fair employment and housing laws cover orientation and gender identity. Has this lead to a holocaust, a widespread degredation of Californians, a destruction of the moral values? Certainly not. It's led to GLBT not being unfairly denied housing, employment, or education solely on the basis of their sexuality. It's not special rights, it's the same rights as everyone else that we want.
Certain segments of society may be slow in catching up, but the impetus for the change has to come from somewhere. The stereotypes and the use of "gay" as an epithet both bother me, but I think they will eventually, not soon, but eventually, fall away as people come to realize that we are just like anyone else, that we've been among you for a long, long time and being able to openly be ourselves doesn't harm anyone.
Gilda
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I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that.
~Steven Colbert
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