MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti), Ekaterina Blinova - American Republicans are faced with a painful dilemma of whether to continue opposing gay marriage or acquiesce to the trend of "nationwide recognition" of same-sex weddings.
"The [Supreme] court's decision Monday to reject appeals from five states that sought to prohibit same-sex marriage reignited a debate inside the GOP between pragmatic Republican officials eager to avoid a fight over a divisive social issue and religious conservatives, a vocal minority that vowed to redouble its efforts and punish those unwilling to join them," the Associated Press writes.
Remarkably, the Supreme Court's decision will eventually affect all the states "falling within the jurisdiction of courts that struck down the bans," the Pew Research analysts admit. The number of the states where gay marriage is legal has sharply risen from 19 to 30. That means that about 60 percent of Americans are now living in the states where same-sex couples can marry.
In the light of forthcoming elections, the court's decision has created a serious dilemma for Republicans and their religious conservative wing.
"If you're a candidate for president who refuses to oppose homosexual marriage, I don't see how you get elected. You're going to get clobbered," says said Steve Scheffler, a Republican from Iowa, as cited by the Associated Press.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who made an appeal against same-sex marriage in Wisconsin, has decided to avoid the theme of same-sex marriage in the future:
"To me, I'd rather be talking in the future now more about our jobs plan and our plan for the future of the state. I think that's what matters to the kids. It's not this issue," he said.
Chris Christie, a Governor of New Jersey and a leading member of the Republican Party, rejected to discuss the Monday court's ruling with the press, referring to the fact that he has not "had a chance to read it."
The Associated Press stresses that among GOP's potential candidates planning to take part in 2016 presidential race only "a handful" have "aggressively criticized" the court's decision. Experts admit that it may indicate that the US is "moving toward nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage."
It "is still theoretically possible," however, that the Supreme Court will finally reject recognition of gay marriage as a constitutional right, the Pew Research analysts claim. This issue is still unresolved and in the majority of America gay marriage is banned.
