A Fundamental Freedom: Why Republicans, Conservatives and Libertarians Should Support Gay Rights

Armed with a simple argument%E2%80%94that "[t]he anti-gay agenda of the Christian Right succinctly exposes the hypocrisy of those who talk of limited government and individual rights but ignore both when it comes to gay rights%E2%80%94" Lampo's sustained, heavily documented study makes its point again and again. Noting that the Founding Fathers were vehemently opposed to the merging of church and state, Lampo addresses the issue of gay rights from all conceivable angles%E2%80%94attacking evangelicals' efforts to keep talk of high divorce rates among heterosexual Protestants out of public policy discussions, and discussing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell; motions by certain Religious Right organizations to restore sodomy laws; and the proposed Defense of Marriage Act. Using numerous quotes and poll results to support his argument, his position is convincing, but he hammers away too hard%E2%80%94a straight read-thru will exhaust most readers, even if they are in agreement with his views. As director of publications at the Cato Institute (a Libertarian think-tank) and the vice president of the Virginia chapter of the Log Cabin Republican Club, Lampo clearly has a horse in the race, but he's candid about his position. Though folks opposed to gay rights are his target audience, Lampo's work will likely find purchase amongst liberals already on the bandwagon. Nevertheless, his parsing of "judicial activism" and "unlimited majoritarianism" is enlightening and thought provoking. (June)