The lavender mafia has been gunning for Santorum since he described the “slippery slope” of the homosexual agenda in the wake of the Lawrence v. Texas judicial activist decision.
They will hate him for decades as they did Anita Bryant.
Yes, he knew Lawrence would lead to the present situation.
And yes, for that he has earned their hatred, but as a Christian he knows it comes with the territory (“Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you, and utter calumny against you for my sake: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in like manner were the prophets before you reviled.”).