Here we are at the end of 2012, and after a year of amazing progress we’re closer than ever to full federal marriage equality. Think about where we were a year ago with Prop 8, with DOMA, with marriage laws from state to state. So much has happened since then. So let’s do a quick year-in-review to get you caught up with the progress we made in 2012, and where we’re going to focus in 2013, including which states are the most likely to make headlines in the coming year.

There’s disagreement over marriage equality in the Democratic Party platform, with some party members resisting the move. We have a date for arguments in a new federal case to overturn Nevada’s marriage ban. And an Iowa judge who upheld marriage equality has support from across the political spectrum, but is it enough to protect him from a new attack by anti-gay groups?

Consider the numbers:

“A 2010 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 41% of Christian conservatives supported legal recognition for gay couples (14% in favor of marriage equality and 27% in favor of civil unions). A 2011 poll by the same organization found 44% of evangelical millennials — those ages 18 to 29 — in favor of same-sex marriage.”

And

“Even on this contentious issue [of legal relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples], there has been substantial growth on the right in support for marriage equality and civil unions. An August 2010 CBS News poll found 59% of Republicans support either same-sex marriage or civil unions (25% for marriage, 34% for civil unions). A May 2011 poll by Public Policy Polling showed a majority of Republicans — 51% — in favor of either same-sex marriage (12%) or civil unions (39%). While the percentage of Republicans supporting same-sex marriage varies from poll to poll, all of them show a majority of Republicans favor legal recognition of gay couples.”

Lampo is quick to point out, however, that anti-gay sentiments still run deep with the GOP. But on the other hand, much progress has been made in recent years to grow support in conservatives :

“Yet an examination of polling data shows that most rank-and-file Republicans view gay rights issues — including the repeal of state sodomy laws, equal access to the same legal rights and privileges as heterosexuals, and the right to serve in the armed forces — as compatible with core Republican principles of individual liberty, limited government and free enterprise.”

When the American Foundation for Equal Rights brought Ted Olson and David Boies together in 2009 to take on California’s Prop. 8 in federal court, we knew that equality for LGBT Americans would only be achieved with the help of allies reaching across the aisle. As Ted wrote in a 2010 Newsweek cover story:

“Americans who believe in the words of the Declaration of Independence, in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, in the 14th Amendment, and in the Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and equal dignity before the law cannot sit by while this wrong continues. This is not a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American one, and it is time that we, as Americans, embraced it.”

Lampo will be discussing why Republicans, Conservatives and Libertarians should support LGBT equality with Michael Barone from the American Enterprise Institute and Cato’s John Samples at 12 Noon ET on Wednesday, July 18. You can watch the forum live at cato.org.

Image via Flickr

Billionaire hedge fund manager and major Republican donor Paul Singer helped raise over $1 million for AFER’s federal challenge to Prop. 8 at a 2010 event in New York City, which brought together bipartisan groups from the legal and business communities.

His support has been critical in many state fights, by helping gain support from key Republican legislators, The New York Times notes:

“He has given nearly $10 million of his own money to gay-rights initiatives, including the same-sex marriage efforts not only in New York, but also in New Hampshire and New Jersey. And that figure doesn’t include his assistance in tapping a broad network of donors for individual candidates. He was pivotal in rounding up about $250,000 apiece for the Republican state senators in New York whose votes for same-sex marriage provided its margin of victory in the Legislature.”

Now, Singer is setting his sights on a new endeavor – getting more Republicans who support marriage equality elected.

“Now, Singer says, he’s providing $1 million to start a new “super PAC” with several Republican compatriots. Named American Unity PAC, its sole mission will be to encourage Republican candidates to support same-sex marriage, in part by helping them to feel financially shielded from any blowback from well-funded groups that oppose it.”

Singer, whose son is gay, believes that marriage equality is part of his conservative ideals:

“[He] said that it ‘very well fits within my framework of freedom,’ adding that it promotes ‘family stability’ and is a tribute to an institution in need of one.”

Asked about Singer’s efforts, AFER Co-founder Chad Griffin told The New York Times reporter Frank Bruni:

 “It’s absolutely necessary…We will never win marriage equality without bipartisan support.”

Image: World Economic Forum/Flickr Creative Commons

This week on Marriage News Watch: President Obama’s leadership on marriage equality is proving to have a major impact, form national organizations and local polling. Anti-equality forces set a record, but it’s probably not one they wanted. And DOMA is ruled unconstitutional in a fifth federal case.

In this week’s update: A leaked memo urges an about-face for anti-equality Republicans. A civil unions bill dies in Colorado, for now. But access to marriage expands in Rhode Island, and more new surveys confirm the ever-growing public support for equality