Barbara Bush: Overnight Star for Equality

Barbara Bush, the 29-year-old daughter of former president George W. Bush, has become the latest luminary for equality from the rightward side of the political spectrum. Her appearance in a Human Rights Campaign-produced video, released on Feb. 1, became an instant sensation, and raised Ms. Bush's profile in the mainstream as well as in the GLBT community.

CBS News reported on Feb. 1 on how Ms. Bush became involved with the video project, in which celebrities who reside in New York speak about equality and fairness for gay and lesbian families and declare themselves to be "New Yorkers for Equality." Actors Mark Ruffalo, Whoopi Goldberg, and Julianne Moore, as well as Robert Kennedy, Jr. and the city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, have appeared in the videos.

"When the opportunity [to include Ms. Bush in the video campaign] became available, we immediately leapt at it," Fred Sainz, the Human Rights Campaign's vice president of communications, told CBS. "We think she's a very effective spokesman and brings an awful lot of dignity and poise."

Sainz went on to say, "She has spoken quite eloquently about the fact that folks should be able to marry the people that they love. That sends a message to all Republicans across this country that this does not have to be--should not be--a partisan issue."

Indeed, Ms. Bush's involvement in the video campaign is only the latest example in what might be a true enlargement of the GOP's so-called "big tent," which purports to accommodate conservatives of every stripe. Dick Cheney, who served as vice president in the George W. Bush administration, has spoken publicly about the need of gay and lesbian families to enjoy the same freedoms, and share in the same obligations, that are available to heterosexuals who choose to enter into marriage.

Cheney's daughter, Mary, who is openly lesbian, partnered with a same-sex life companion, and the mother of two children, has also stood up for GLBT right. And two members of Arizona Sen. John McCain's immediate family--wife Cindy and daughter Meghan--have spoken out for GLBT equality.

Moreover, gay members of the GOP scored a victory when the Log Cabin Republicans won a court case against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the anti-gay law that forbids openly gay and lesbian patriots from serving in uniform. And GLBT conservatives as a group have found a home in GOProud, an organization that promotes conservative causes and GLBT social and legal parity.

New York honors marriages granted to same-sex couples in other jurisdictions, though the state does not provide marriage equality. However, newly-elected Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that he would sign a bill for marriage parity if one reached his desk. His predecessor, former Gov. David Paterson, pushed hard to get state senators to address the issue after the state assembly approved bills to grant marriage equality to same-sex families. The state senate did vote on such a bill in late 2009, but the measure failed.

Equality advocates hope so see a different result the next time lawmakers take up the issue.

Across America, a variety of issues concerning equality before the law for GLBTs and their families have gained currency. Americans increasingly support recognition for gay and lesbian families; polls show overwhelming support for the repeal of DADT, which Congress approved last December. (The repeal remains pending, and will not come into effect until top officials declare that the time is right.) What is consistent about GLBT equality issues is that younger Americans support them in greater numbers, a reality Sainz referenced in telling CBS News that Ms. Bush's stance "is representative of how marriage equality is really a no brainer for younger Americans."

"No matter what party they belong to, young Americans believe in basic fairness and equality," noted the HRC's Brian Ellner.

The New York Times reflected on the generational trend in a Feb. 2 article, noting that in last November's elections 41% of New York voters as a whole supported marriage equality--but among voters under 30, 52% said that sexual minorities should have family parity under the law.

"Nationwide public opinion polls have found a similar pattern," stated the New York Times article. "In a CBS News poll conducted in August, 40 percent of Americans said same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, while 30 percent instead supported civil unions for gay couples and another 25 percent opposed any legal recognition. But support for gay marriage jumped to 57 percent among Americans under age 30. Again, support dropped as age increased."

The San Francisco Chronicle meditated in a Feb. 1 article on whether the generational shift presaged the dawn of true legal equality on all fronts for gay Americans. "Yes, this is only one video, yet the experts are saying it's symbolic of the changing times," read the article. "The younger generation's modern moral values are beginning to overshadow those of their antiquated elders. Soon this generation will be calling the shots and that's when we might see some real change. Will Barbara Bush help lead the charge?"

"I'm Barabara Bush, and I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality," Ms. Bush says in the 22-second video, which announces via text that "New Yorkers support full marriage equality."

"New York is about fairness and equality," Ms. Bush continues, "and everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love."