Leading Right-Wing Prop. 8 Proponent Comes Out in Support of Marriage Equality

[William769]

Chalk up one for marriage equality. David Blankenhorn, the founder of the Institute for American Values and author of The Future of Marriage, announced in The New York Times that he now supports same-sex marriage, calling it “a victory for basic fairness.” It was a surprise move from the man who opposed marriage equality so much he was one of just a few witnesses to testify in favor of Proposition 8, the ballot measure that defined marriage as between a man and woman in California.

Blankenhorn wrote in an op-ed titled “How My View on Gay Marriage Changed” that he doesn’t “believe that opposite-sex and same-sex relationships are the same, but I do believe, with growing numbers of Americans, that the time for denigrating or stigmatizing same-sex relationships is over. Whatever one’s definition of marriage, legally recognizing gay and lesbian couples and their children is a victory for basic fairness.” He also argued that “most of our national elites, as well as most younger Americans, favor gay marriage. This emerging consensus may be wrong on the merits. But surely it matters.”

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/06/22/leading-right-wing-prop-8-proponent-comes-out-support-marriage

Not sure what to make of this.

[hrmjustin]

1. I am always gad to see someone change their minds on this issue. n/t

[bluestateguy]

2. We are going to win on this issue

It's not a matter of if, it is only a matter of when.

[JackBeck]

3. Maggie Gallagher responds:

"My friend and mentor and one-time boss David Blankenhorn has just published a New York Times op-ed in which he gives up on opposing gay marriage. I haven’t yet read it carefully enough to respond, except to say that 'the argument from despair' is the single most powerful argument gay-marriage advocates wield. I wish you well, old friend." - Maggie Gallagher.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/303744/david-blankenhorn-gives-maggie-gallagher#

Could not have asked for a better present for Pride. I have a long history with Maggie and this is just simply delicious.

[William769]

4. Thanks for posting that.

[closeupready]

5. Never heard of this guy before, but I'm always glad to see

former opponents state publicly, 'hey, I was wrong, and my adversaries were right.'

[marginlized]

6. And for all the wrong reasons ...

it's not as if he's recanting any of his original thoughts. He's just going to grant fairness because now he has no stomach for culture war. Even when all the symptoms he cites are the results of no fault divorce laws passed in the 70's, for example. And his complaint that marriage has become a "private ordering" is at odds with other conservatives' calls to get government out of marriage.

"With each passing year, we see higher and higher levels of unwed childbearing, nonmarital cohabitation and family fragmentation among heterosexuals. Perhaps some of this can be attributed to the reconceptualization of marriage as a private ordering that is so central to the idea of gay marriage."

His arguement is so confused.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/opinion/how-my-view-on-gay-marriage-changed.html?src=me&ref=general

[beyurslf]

7. How nice of him.

Forgive me if I don't fall all over myself thanking him for saying I am his equal.

From the article:

"Blankenhorn wrote in an op-ed titled “How My View on Gay Marriage Changed” that he doesn’t “believe that opposite-sex and same-sex relationships are the same"