While many suggest that marriage equality for same-sex couples is inevitable, public polling suggests that compared to the most similar issue, interracial marriage, the law is far behind public opinion.

The 1967 Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia ended all restrictions on interracial marriage in the United States. But a Gallup poll a year later in 1968 showed that only 20 percent of Americans supported marriage between whites and black; 73 percent opposed:

Note that a plurality did not support interracial marriage until 1991, almost 25 years after Loving v. Virginia was decided, and it was another six years until there was an actual majority! (In Mississippi just one month ago, 46 percent of Republicans still oppose interracial marriage.)

Compare that to a Gallup poll released today that shows a majority of Americans (53 percent) support marriage equality for same-sex couples. It’s the first time a Gallup poll has shown a majority of support, but it echoes other recent polls with the same result from the Public Religion Research Institute (51 percent), Washington Post-ABC News (53 percent), and CNN/Opinion Research Corporation (51 percent):

All opponents of marriage equality who claim society is “not ready” for marriage equality need to brush up on their history. Support for LGBT equality is well beyond precedent for this important paradigm change.

The state of Tennessee has undertaken a series of actions this week that amount to declaring war on its LGBT citizens. With rollbacks of employment protections and an intent to erase the existence of LGBT people in schools, Tennessee has made some sweeping attacks against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.

When Nashville passed a non-discrimination ordinance earlier this year inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, the city celebrated the fact it would be a more competitive because many businesses have similar policies. The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce — which includes leadership from Nissan, FedEx, AT&T, Comcast, DuPont, Pfizer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Caterpillar, KPMG, Whirlpool, Embraer, Alcoa, and United HealthCare — conspired with religious right groups to advocate for a bill invalidating Nashville’s ordinance. Proponents called the bill the “Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act,” but opponents more accurately called it the “Special Access to Discriminate” (SAD) Act.

The SAD Act, which has now passed both chambers, dictates that no municipality can extend non-discrimination protections beyond what the state offers. Because Tennessee has no such protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, ordinances like Nashville’s would be nullified by the bill. Passed by a Republican majority in the legislature, the bill verily violates the “Tenther” philosophy popular among conservatives by having the state limit the powers of local government. With Gov. Bill Haslam’s (R) signature, Tennessee will officially deny the right of employment to members of the LGBT community.

Further, the Tennessee Senate today passed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Luckily, the bill did not make it through the necessary House committee in time to be considered during this legislative session. Still, the Senate has sent the message that all young people should be prohibited from learning about the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-8. Awareness of sexual orientation can begin as early as age 11, but it would seem the bill would deny those young people access to any resources. It would also deny teachers any leeway to explain (or perhaps even recognize) same-sex families, even if they are part of the classroom community!

A third anti-gay education bill we reported on yesterday might also be approved before the day is over.

These intentions to stigmatize and discriminate are what contribute to a culture of bullying and disparities in health and economic well-being for LGBT people. Tennessee conservatives can pretend that a “see no gay” approach is “neutral,” but it’s clear these actions will have very real consequences for the very real LGBT people who live there.

(HT: John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay at AMERICAblog Gay for their reporting on the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce.)

Both Nevada and Connecticut have advanced bills that protect transgender individuals from various forms of discrimination, but a Tennessee bill would rescind such protections in Nashville:

- CONNECTICUT: The House of Representatives approved a bill barring discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It now goes to the Senate.

- MICHIGAN: Republicans continue to use the state budget to attack the LGBT community, and the latest attempt is a provision that would require university counseling programs to “report” on whether they are accommodating students’ religious beliefs adequately. This conscience clause stems from the case of Julea Ward, who was expelled when she declined to counsel a gay student.

- MINNESOTA: Only one more House vote is required for the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage to advance to a referendum. Opponents have been protesting while proponents have been repeating a tired meme: “Let The Voters Decide” (whether to discriminate).

– NEVADA: The legislature has passed a bill prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity and it awaits Gov. Brian Sandoval’s (R) signature. Two other bills are still working their way through the Assembly that would offer similar protections for housing and public accommodations.

- NEW YORK: The clock is ticking to advance marriage equality in New York, and Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party, may be the primary obstacle. Despite the introduction of a bill that would actually reverse the recognition of out-of-state marriages, a report shows that marriage equality would earn the state $391 million.

- NORTH CAROLINA: Both proponents and opponents of a proposed amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriage are speaking out. The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins led the charge in an anti-equality rally this week, but a group of faith leaders held their own press conference in favor of equality.

- OKLAHOMA: A bill that would have strengthened anti-bullying measures in Oklahoma failed in the House of Representatives this week.

- RHODE ISLAND: The House has approved the controversial civil unions bill with a 62-11 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

- SOUTH CAROLINA: A bill that would provide fully inclusive state-level hate crimes protections has been introduced. Last time the bill was considered, it failed by only four votes.

- TENNESSEE: After being strongly pushed by companies like FedEx, AT&T, Nissan, and Comcast, the legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit Tennessee municipalities from passing nondiscrimination ordinances inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. If Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signs the bill, it will effectively rescind Nashville’s nondiscrimination protections.

- VIRGINIA: Supporters of adoption by same-sex couples are demanding the Board of Social Services allow more time for public comment before new regulations are adopted that would not allow same-sex couples to adopt or be foster parents.

Keep track of how LGBT issues are advancing in the states at our State LGBT Watch.

The whole point of the “It Gets Better” campaign is to affirm young people who may be questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity that even though they may be bullied or made to feel less than, they will be able to grow strong and live healthy fulfilling lives. But Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission wants folks to know it does not get better; in fact, he calls the tens of thousands of It Gets Better videos “deceitful,” and he is all too eager to encourage young people to be afraid and to hate themselves for possibly being gay:

…The commercial is intended to leave viewers with the feeling that there is a hopeful future for those who live as homosexuals. But, unfortunately, the facts tell a very different story. [...]

Social acceptance of homosexual behavior doesn’t bring individuals peace or eliminate its tragic consequences. [...]

Homosexual behavior is a terrible health risk. [...]

They may believe it’s getting better, but it’s really not.

Watch:

Plenty of research shows that many of the mental and physical health disparities the LGBT community experience are the direct result of minority stress and stigma. Some of the “facts” Cass cites about rates of suicide, cancer, and HIV are true, but are actually direct results of the very stigma Cass reinforces in this video. For example, gays and lesbians are more likely to smoke cigarettes because of minority stress, which would contribute to higher cancer rates.

In his accompanying article, Cass cites debunked “research” from ex-gay organizations such as NARTH (National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality) and Exodus International that suggests that a person’s sexual orientation can be changed. Most major medical organizations condemn such therapy as harmful and ineffective, and one study demonstrates that the actions of the ex-gay movement constitute four of the United Nations’ five definitions of genocide against the LGBT community.

Cass and others want to enforce their anti-gay evangelical perspective on others, and the consequences extend far beyond political inequality. The takeaway from this video is that Cass does not want it to get better for gays and lesbians. He wants them to continue to be depressed, to hate themselves, and to spend their lives never accepting their identity or finding happiness. Unfortunately for Cass, his point of view is less popular than ever.