From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The fast track to same-sex marriage.

Hello again, I'm Orin Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Civil unions for

gays and lesbians were recognized less than 10 years ago. Now, same-sex marriage is on the agenda

in many parts of the country. Why so fast? Are homosexual couples now seen as part of mainstream

society? Or are courts and legislators recognizing their right to be different? Why do

black leaders object so strongly when gays and lesbians use the language of civil rights? What strategies

are being used to keep the momentum going? And what are backers of traditional marriage doing

to slow it down? On reporter's notebook later on, reducing the cost of health care.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John

D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, dedicated to the idea that

all people deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. Information at gatesfoundation.org.

Hello again, Mormon Alney, back with To the Point. President Obama is just one supporter of gay

rights who draws the line at same-sex marriage.

Today, we'll talk about a movement that's been picking up speed and about the developing efforts by some to keep it going and by others to slow it down.

On reporter's notebook, health care providers and insurance companies promise to cut costs.

We'll look at the politics behind a letter to the Obama White House.

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