How the gay marriage movement is evolving in the U.S.

This absorbing interactive graphic from the LA Times stuck me as counter-intuitive at first.

We all know the country is moving toward marriage equality. When you click “play” on the graphic, you expect to see tolerance bloom.

Instead, you see the real story—the progress made toward gay marriage rights in the more civilized areas of the country, and a comparable calcifying (indeed, actual atavism) in the backward parts.

You’ll notice Arizona proudly takes its place not just among the most prejudiced parts of the country, but the ones that have most recently taken the most stringent measures against marriage equality.