I think that even in the past the default position of most Americans on these issues is one where they just don’t care one way or another very strongly and don’

I think that even in the past the default position of most Americans on these issues is one where they just don’t care one way or another very strongly and don’t want to deal with those who do. Even in the days where it seemed that 95% thought gay marriage was ridiculous, it seems more likely to me that maybe 30% hated the idea and 50% didn’t care strongly either way but certainly didn’t want to face the 30%. This is almost the same dynamic you are talking about now; the difference is who the vocal 30% is these days. The majority of people maybe mildly disliked gay marriage but didn’t really care about it and mostly just don’t want to deal with the people who care a great deal about it, only now the vocal 30% who care a great deal is for gay marriage. That’s the shifted Overton window, and a bunch of people who hated gay marriage are complaining how “it seemed like everyone was with me just a decade ago!”