Among the many events that occurred on Nov. 6, perhaps one of the most important was a victory for gay rights. After a long-fought struggle over the constitutional right to marry, public opinion was finally delivered on the side of gays and lesbians pursuing equality. This represents a liberalization of American views on homosexuality and a decline in the influence of radical anti-gay organizations.

Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington state all approved referendums repealing laws against same-sex marriage, while voters in Minnesota rejected a proposed same-sex marriage ban for the state's constitution. Gays and lesbians' political rights have been limited with regard to marriage, civil unions or other rights by 33 consecutive measures. However, the unbroken tradition of discrimination at the ballot box abruptly came to an end last Tuesday night.

It is without doubt that the people of this nation have come a long way on this issue of basic civil rights for homosexuals. Just thirty years ago, homosexuality was seen as a taboo issue, with many in government positions still equating being gay with being a pedophile.
In the late 1980s, the Republican candidate for mayor in my hometown of Houston, said that in order to stop the spread of AIDS they needed to "shoot the queers" (it is worth saying that he lost). When the Pew Research Center began tracking public support of same-sex marriage in the 1990s, public support stood at less than 25 percent. The 2004 presidential election, the first election in which same-sex marriage was a large issue, saw both the Republican and Democratic candidates take strong, hateful stands against gays and lesbians.

The shift to an accepting tone from the populous is significant for two main reasons. First, it eliminates the key criticism of same-sex marriage opponents, a lack of public support; and second, it represents a transition to a more open, accepting and less vitriol-filled society. The Knights of Columbus, an extreme political organization loosely affiliated with the Catholic Church, and many political organizations affiliated with the Mormon Church have underwritten large portions of these campaigns against same-sex marriage. Additionally, extremist evangelical groups, such as the American Family Association, Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage, have also championed these measures.
The above-named conservative evangelical political organizations, make an issue out of any organization or cause that may legitimize or condone homosexuality. These conservative groups  are officially listed as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The decline of the influence of these hate groups, with regards to voters' opinions, is an important step in this country.

While many of the ads that opposed same-sex marriage in referendums often painted the picture of being opposed to the label of marriage, these groups actually supported much larger, more radical platforms, including denying civil unions and domestic partnerships, prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from adopting children and prohibiting any reference to homosexuality in education.

For example, the National Organization for Marriage, one of the biggest opponents of gay marriage legislation in many states, was also the biggest opponent of civil union legislation in Rhode Island in 2011. In fact, sometimes these extreme measures are also supported and approved by voters. In 2008, Arkansas voters prohibited same-sex couples from adopting children. In 2005, Texas voters prohibited any union "identical or similar to marriage" to be given to gays or lesbians. A shift away from these extreme positions is an enormous transition toward a more just and equitable nation.

Whenever there has been a movement that seeks to enfranchise a part of the populations, or extend rights to one segment of the populous enjoyed by another segment, the movement has been successful in its goals. Whether it has been abolitionism, women's rights, or the civil rights movement, equality and justice always move forward. The message sent by the voters of Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state last Tuesday is one ready for the completion and validation of the current movement for gay rights.

A society in which voters are more open to a more diverse segment of the population and one in which hate groups provide no sway or influence on social issues would be a more just and better society indeed.
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