The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    Are Gays the New Seniors?

    By erica20 on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 11:41am |

    Ok, this question has been burbling around in my mind for awhile, especially now with actual Senators coming out in favor of same sex marriage.

    Are LGBTs and their supporters the new senior citizens? And by that, I mean a block of people who will reliably vote as predicted, and moreover work for their candidates of choice, encouraging their many friends to come out and do the same?

    It seems to me that it has suddenly dawned on everyone that the long-term ROI of a gay vote is huge. Acknowledge their equality, deliver same sex marriage to this group, and expect them to vote for your party FOREVER--forget that problem of people turning more conservative as they get older and switching to the GOP.

    Republicans are too fractured to go after this vote right now, which leaves the field open to Democrats.

    Discuss.......

    Comments

    LGBT demographics indicate that politically they are most likely socially liberal, fiscally conservative voters aka Libertarians.

    They are the ultimate DINKs (double-income, no kids), predominately male, have an extremely effective advocacy group, GLAAD, and are over-represented in mass media professions. 

    So, yes, politicians of every party will be happy to embrace their generous disposable income, marketing skills and trendiness as their historic stigma fades.

    The real test for future political alignment is how socially liberal they really turn out to be once their own issues are resolved. 

     

     

     


    by EmmaZahn on Wed, 03/27/2013 - 1:23pm

    Interesting question Erica.  I think we have to think about how LGBTs as a bloc might vote and have an impact in both the short and long terms.  In the near term I think it's definitely clear that the Democrats will have an advantage in certain places around the country (and in red states too perhaps?).  Ironically, if and when Democrats can convert enough Republican colleagues on LGBT rights and the issues are resolved--as a matter of federal law anyway--then over time I think the LGBT vote will start to become more diverse and unpredictable. 

     


    by Bruce Levine on Thu, 03/28/2013 - 8:24pm

    Heck, if we assume that the majority of LGBT community become "dinks" (double income, no kids) after sanity is implemented in the manner of allowing them to marry (although not strictly required for "double income", I think it would increase the preponderance), and if we assume that the majority of those in higher tax brackets tend to vote Republican…


    by Verified Atheist on Fri, 03/29/2013 - 8:34am