This is a work of fiction–but not a fantasy–based on a possible outcome of the November 6 U.S. election.

Breaking News, November 6, 2013

In an Oval Office ceremony, President Willard Mitt Romney today signed the American Marriage and Families Act, which was passed by both houses of Congress by narrow margins. The new law establishes a federal ban on all same-sex marriages, and buttresses the Defense of Marriage Act, by which marital benefits for all federal employees are extended only to opposite-sex spouses. The sponsors of the law plan to lobby adoption of a similar law in the ten states (plus the District of Columbia), which have previously passed marriage equality—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington.

The president, surrounded by members of the Republican caucus, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, Kentucky), and representatives from the National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council, said, “This is a great day for America, one we have anticipated for many years. Today, we celebrate a country in which tradition and the love of God’s word, enshrined in our Constitution, can be embraced once again. Marriage and the family values on which our great country was founded are secure.”

Senator McConnell added, “This law is a great victory for all families in America, who can now rest assured that the radical homosexual agenda has been stopped in its tracks.”

Speaker of the House Eric Cantor agreed, saying, “We’re grateful to all our colleagues who have worked so tirelessly to put an end to the threat of gay marriage. Our children and our future will now be safe.”

Human rights and LGBT advocacy groups have wasted no time challenging the constitutionality of the new law, and have vowed to take it all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Steve Snyder-Hill, co-founding co-director, along with his husband, Joshua, of MarriageEvolved, blasted the new legislation: “This is a tragic day for personal freedom and justice in the United States of America. Today the president signed a law that abrogates two of the most cherished tenets of our democracy—the separation of church and state, and the freedom of religion. Our government took a huge step in the wrong direction today, toward a religion-based state. Tens of thousands of LGBT people and same-sex couples watched helplessly as their second-class status was written into the books with one turn of the pen. But this battle is not over. We will fight it, on constitutional grounds, for as long as it takes to overturn it.”

Carolyn and Marla Morton-Hart were among the first Americans to enter a same-sex marriage when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize it in 2004. Now, sitting in the apartment she shared with her family in Boston, Carolyn switched off the TV, and turned to her wife. “I can’t believe this just happened. I can’t believe my country is doing this to us.”

Marla merely nodded; she was in shock. Just then, their daughter, Greta, came running into the living room, with her brother, Judd, in hot pursuit. The kids were squealing and screeching at the top of their lungs.

Carolyn grabbed Greta as she scooted by, and settled her into her lap. Marla scooped up Judd. She said, “Shhh. Mommy and I need a little quiet time right now.”

At age 4, Greta already possessed antennae that were finely tuned to her parents’ moods.“What’s the matter, Mommy? Why are you crying?”

Judd, a boisterous toddler, said, “Momma is sad?” The kids fidgeted.

Carolyn said, “Momma and I just heard some news that has upset us a little bit. We’re okay, though. Don’t worry. Who wants dinner?”

Early the next morning, a fine crisp autumn day, Brad Langston and his partner, David Shaw, took a walk in Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton, Ohio. They had followed the developing story of this dreaded law, and were devastated the night before, as they watched President Romney proudly adding his signature to it. This morning, after a night of tossing and turning, they needed fresh air and a chance to collect themselves.

“So much for our freedom to marry,” said Brad, who then heaved a great sigh of despair. Both men were avid volunteers in Ohio’s freedom to marry movement, which had been gaining momentum, right up until Romney’s election the year before.

“Never give up hope, honey,” said David, who had adopted the role of cheerleader for his sweetheart. “Besides, nothing can come between you and me.” Then he held Brad’s hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. “We’ll keep fighting this. We will.”

Just then, three big white guys barreled by, tossing a football among themselves.

“Faggots!” yelled one of them.

“Ha! Yeah. A white fag and a black fag. Mixed-race faggotry!” yelled the second one, spitting at David’s feet.

“Guess the president fixed you!” yelled the third. Brad and David simply stopped in their tracks and froze, a long-practiced response to public harassment. The trio of bullies laughed at their own cleverness and kept right on going.

“Honey, it’s gonna be a long fight,” said Brad, as the couple continued shakily on their way.

On the Sunday following the November 6 signing of the Protect American Marriage and Families Act, in Athens, Georgia, Evan Young, age 17, sat with his family in the third pew from the front, and listened while Rev. John Grassley preached about the sanctity of love and marriage, and blessed the president and the Congress for doing God’s work on behalf of all good Christians everywhere.

During their weekly Sunday brunch, over pot roast and potatoes, Evan’s parents laughed and rejoiced with relief that the abomination of homosexuality would soon be obliterated from American life altogether. Evan sat and picked at his food, and said nothing.

“What’s the matter, son?” his dad asked. “Off your feed?”

“Nah, just not feeling as thrilled by this new law as you-all are,” answered Evan.

“You’re not!” said his mom. “Well, I’m surprised at you, Evan. I thought you’d be glad we finally have a president that is willing to stand up for us and our Christian beliefs.”

“Yeah,” said Evan’s little sister, Suzie, age 12. “Homosexuals are sinners!”

After the meal, Evan quietly stole out to the garage, took a rope off the neat tool shelves, and climbed a ladder to loop it over the center cross beam and tie it there. He made a noose of the rope’s other end, tugged a couple of times to make sure it was strong, looped the noose around his neck, and kicked away the ladder.

Later that same evening, in Minneapolis, Roberta Roth, a transgender woman, was blindsided and assaulted by a gang of five thugs outside her home on a busy street, while onlookers watched and did nothing. With every blow, her attackers yelled, “RomNEY, RomNEY, RomNEY!”

In the months following passage of the American Marriage and Families Act, the Romney administration dismantled the National Resource for LGBT seniors, and every other federal initiative and protection for LGBT people that the one-term Obama administration had installed. More elder LGBT people found themselves hungry and homeless than in the preceding decade, LGBT suicides and hate crimes rose dramatically, and many LGBT people who had dared to venture out and claim their identity were driven deep back into the closet, for fear of reprisals and worse.

Activists, thrust by acts of their government back to square one, redoubled their efforts to obtain liberty and justice for all, and swore never to settle for codified homophobia, no matter how long it took.

End of Story.
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This is not far-fetched. Just look at this, and feel the fear:

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