Despite Progress, Gay Marriage Advocates Face Tough Fight

Opinion is shifting, but opponents have dug in

Momentum in the states to allow gay marriage may be about to stall.

Recent victories have given same-sex marriage advocates hope that the tide has turned in their long-running fight for marriage equality, given the number of states approving same-sex marriage has doubled since Election Day 2012.

But 36 states still ban such unions, and there's little sign of change in those states anytime soon.

While national public opinion polls show Americans warming to same-sex marriage, voters in many states remain staunchly opposed. And even where the politics and sentiment have changed, bans enshrined in many state constitutions could prove especially difficult to overturn — exactly the reason opponents pushed for constitutional measures in the first place.