Dennis Prager's "Conservatives and Gays: Where Do We Stand?"

Talk radio host Dennis Prager has an excellent article over at National Review Online: "Conservatives and Gays: Where Do We Stand?"

He begins it with:

In addition to labeling conservatives and Republicans “anti-woman” (for opposing government-mandated free contraception), “anti-black” and “anti-Hispanic” (for advocating photo identification for voting), and “anti-science” (for skepticism regarding the belief that man-made carbon emissions will destroy much of the planet), Democrats now regularly label Republicans “anti-gay” (for opposing same-sex marriage). 

All these charges are demagogic. But when it comes to the “anti-gay” charge, conservatives need to clarify to ourselves as much as to the general public where we stand.

Prager goes on to make several points.  One of which is:

Conservatives must object to values, not to individuals. 

As it happens, there are far more gays who hold conservative values than many gay activists — or conservatives — realize. And we should embrace these people. Being gay does not automatically mean that one is on the left, and conservatives should not make that assumption. Otherwise, we risk pushing gay conservatives leftward.

The election this November will probably be a close one.  We needn't marginalize people who are conservatives, but have different personal lives.  What someone does in the privacy of their bedroom does not concern me.   It really shouldn't concern anyone else.

Prager's closing paragraph says it best:

A gay person who believes in the American Trinity — Liberty, In God We Trust, and E Pluribus Unum — and who believe in small government, in American exceptionalism, and in the need for America to be the strongest military and economic power in the world is one of us. And we should embrace him as such.

To read Prager's full article, go here.