Gay Cowardice

Too many gay activists do stellar work fighting against anti-gay marriage amendments and laws. But they are too often crippled by self-censorship and, well, politics. Evan Wolfson, one of the heroes of today's civil rights movement, expains why this is counter-productive here:

So far, too many of our state campaigns—both the short-term election efforts and the longer-term public education work—fail to offer the voting public real content and an authentic engagement. Too often they have not used the airtime of an election battle to talk about gay people and marriage — the two things these ballot measures are most about — instead relying on generic appeals to fairness. Too many of our side's campaigns have chosen to emphasize collateral effects on non-gay families, as if voters will really be persuaded that what the media will always refer to as "the marriage amendment" is somehow not about gay people's freedom to marry. Worst of all, many campaigns and activists have gone with the message that people should vote the measure down simply because it is "unnecessary" or "goes too far." That subliminally suggests — unintentionally, but in a way that is still damaging to our long-term movement — that some discrimination is okay and that it would indeed be a problem if we really did have gay couples marrying.

We will not win until we are unafraid. I believe civil marriage for gay couples is moral, it is right, it is good for society - and anything less is immoral, wrong and bad for society as a whole. (My fundamental case is made in my 1995 book, "Virtually Normal.") Let us make this case - calmly, honestly, openly. And we will win - for one reason only. Because we are right.

via: Andrew Sullivan