Gay Marriage -- the future beckons?

I'm no longer living in California, so I won't have an opportunity to cast my ballot regarding Prop. 8, a bill that would institute a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman. This bill is similar in nature to another one passed in 2000 (Prop 22), a measure that limited marriage to a man and a woman, but did so as simply a statute, not a constitutional amendment. That effort passe with 61% of the vote.

A recent poll reported on in the LA Times suggests that things have changed in 8 years. Now a slim majority (51%) in a recent Field Poll would vote against the measure. In part that might because of changes in perspective and also because this is a constitutional amendment, and people are less eager to change the constitution. Whatever the case, it is quite possible that the California Supreme Court decision throwing out the earlier vote will stand allowing thousands of gays and lesbians to be legally wed.

The question that stands before us then is this: Is this an anomaly or is it suggestive of what might be around the corner, that we as a culture have come to accept (at least to a degree) homosexuality as a natural part of the community? Certainly there is plenty of opposition and even persecution, but has the tide turned? If so what does that mean?

On this issue the church will not be out front. We will hold back, waiting in part for generational changes of leadership. But looking out over the horizon, I believe that things are changing, and probably quicker than many thought possible.