Dems to back same-sex marriage, courting Millennial voters

In a May interview with ABC, President Obama expressed his support for same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is one of those issues fueling the so-called “culture war” in the United States and one that is sure to polarize the electorate this November.

So, naturally, when the Democratic National Committee took the first step toward adding same-sex marriage to its party platform, it was either lauded as a smart political decision or denounced as a decision that is sure to cost the Democrats the election -- not only in the presidential race, but in tightly contested races for the House and the Senate.

For many college students, the DNC’s decision is one to be applauded. According to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken in July, 58% of Millennial voters -- ages 18 to 29 -- believe that the president should work to legalize same-sex marriage.

Minneapolis native and Democrat Marisa Papsin is part of that majority.

“I love that [the DNC] is using gay marriage as a party platform,” the 25-year-old Art Institute of Minneapolis alum said. “I don’t think it is right for people to tell other people who they can marry. If it’s not hurting anyone, who’s to say it’s wrong?”

Yet, for a significant portion of Millennial voters -- 42% -- same-sex marriage is not an issue the federal government should be focusing on.

James DelGreco, a 21-year-old graduate student at Montclair State University, who characterizes himself as a conservative Republican, said he believes the DNC’s decision is nothing more than a strategic political move less than 100 days before Election Day to gain votes from same-sex marriage supporters and more liberal-minded voters.

“I believe that this issue is unlike any other issue the United States has faced,” the Rockaway, N.J., native said. “Due to separation of church and state, I believe that only the church should be allowed to define what marriage should be. I do not believe the government has the right to define the religious institution of marriage.”

DelGreco said he does believe, however, that as time progresses it is likely that more and more states will legalize same-sex marriage and the issue will become a thing of the past even if some disagree.

"But as long as we have states voting against it, this issue will stick around for some time,” he said.

Papsin also said she believes that, eventually, this issue will become a thing of the past, but hopes it occurs sooner rather than later.

“Sooner or later there is going to be some bipartisanship on this issue,” she said.

Still, for right now, it can only be speculated how influential the DNC’s same-sex marriage platform will be on voters' decisions come November.

Amanda Kelly is a Summer 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.