In the LA Times, the sociologist Brian Powell suggests Perry v. Schwarzenegger is the next Loving v. Virginia, helping to change public opinion. In so-suggesting, by the way, he's validating the argument of those who support Prop 8--the law has the power to change cultural understandings of marriage.

He doesn't really consider the other possibility: by resorting to the courts, gay marriage advocates are cutting off the conversation they precisely want to have--and undercutting the legitimacy of the prize they seek to win.

Not the next Loving v. Virginia, but the next Roe v. Wade?