… Everything about the decisions on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8 suggests that the justices fully recognize the direction the national debate is heading in and were not prepared to stand in the way. … By every measure, more and more Americans are coming to accept the idea that such unions should be legal, part of a cultural change of enormous significance.
But the shift in public opinion is neither fully realized nor held consistently nationwide, or among all demographic groups. Same-sex marriage continues to divide Americans on the basis of ideology, political party, age and region, which is why legal and political battles will continue after Wednesday’s rulings. The justices seemed aware of that as well. [cont.]
Dan Balz, Washington Post
Recent polls: Same-sex marriage