You're tearing me apart, love!

In lieu of a better title, I'm choosing this altered quote from an infamously bad movie, not just because it's funny, but I'll probably get more hits that way. Sorry for the subterfuge.

So I've been considering what have been the biggest problems facing the social fabric of our wonderful country for as long as I have politically interested in it (about ten years, give or take), and I have come to some sort of conclusion. It isn't the evolution of the modern family, changing (and defying) gender roles, or the acceptance of lifestyles other than that of white republicans that are tearing apart this country. Amazingly, it's the opposite. Attempts at institutionalized discrimination, hatred, fear, are what have been pulling at the frayed seams. Two consenting (see: over 18 and of sound mind) adults of the same gender loving each other hardly merit the downfall of Western civilization, neither do kids growing up in the home of said consenting adults.
The backlash and vitriol concerning the conservative stranglehold on  morality, disguised as a fight for "traditional values," has only increased in tempo and volume recently; this is due, in my opinion anyway, to the decreasing appeal of the Republican party in general. The newest attack on living an alternative lifestyle, which apparently is going to rend this country apart, is the reversal of gender roles in the home. Working mothers, stay-at-home dads, and even (gasp!) single parent households are further destroying the conservative notion of the "traditional" family. As if marriage equality wasn't bad enough, these shuttered-minded pundits declare that no good comes from women bringing home the majority (or all) of the bacon. Fox's own Megyn Kelly had a few things to say about her colleagues comments.
Not all the news about our social welfare (in the sense that it concerns us as a society) has been negative. A few more states have gone the way of more inclusive equality standards, Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota have all passed successful legislation, and Illinois is close. In my own discriminatory state, I attended the very popular Pride Festival, and saw no outward forms of protest all weekend (not that they didn't exist, they just weren't noticeable). On the radio, I've been hearing Macklemore's marriage equality ballad "Same Love" quite regularly.
No matter how much hate and fear is spread on the internet, I believe that equality (in marriage, anyway) will win out, as it is supported by love. All I can think about when I hear the tired arguments about how gay marriage will destroy straight "traditional" marriage, is that they are the same arguments used to support slavery, segregation, and miscegenation. Not to mention keeping down women, other races, religions, etc. Hate just doesn't work in bringing people together forever.