I'm sure many of us have heard of various groups, some in colleges, some not, that call themselves "gay-straight alliances." These are organizations promoting gay rights featuring members of both straight and gay communities. I propose that all of us should also be members of a gay-freethought alliance. We do share a common antagonist, after all, with our gay friends. (And I include gays, lesbians, bisexuals, polyamorists, and transgendered folks in that community.)
Think of it. Both the gay community and the freethought community are persecuted almost exclusively by the religious nuts. There are some exceptions, of course. Some homophobes are driven by their innate insecurities rather than by religious dogma, but by far the most harm is done to the gay community by theists. And it's true that some theists accept homosexuality, just as some of them acknowledge atheism (though I don't think many of them truly accept it).
I've long been supportive of gay rights, even before I was an atheist. Once I was an atheist, I realized that the only real arguments against things such as same-sex marriage or plural marriage were religious arguments. And therefore, they weren't valid at all, especially in a country that has supposed separation of church and state. If we do, then religious arguments should not be permitted to influence the making of laws. The gay community should enjoy the same rights as the straight community, bar none.
If our government is allowing religious arguments to sway opinion on laws regarding gays, how far off can it be before the same arguments are used to limit the rights of atheists?
That may sound like a stretch, but is it? I really hope so, but I fear otherwise.
Even if it is, all freethinkers should be ardent supporters of all gay rights. The only reason they don't have those rights is because of religion. And that's what we're all trying to change.
