Originally Posted by
Julio3000
The fact that you weren't around or politically conscious at the time does not make the fact irrelevant.
Gay marriage was a winning issue for Republicans at least through 2004... States put anti-gay marriage amendments on the ballot in order to drive turnout for Bush. It was, until it wasn't, and that turn came quickly.
If the issue is of basic compassion or fairness, I'd rather be ahead of the curve and on the right side than behind the curve for short-term political benefit, and on the wrong side.
I don't think it's a top-drawer issue, and I also think that you're ignoring the fact that it's social conservatives who are driving the bus here--see the "bathroom bills," etc. Actually, that may be an instructive example if you look at NC in 2016. The state went for Trump and R Senate candidate, but the incumbent R governor lost because of his association with their extremely onerous anti-LGBT bill...which speaks to the fact that the issue got traction beyond the left.