Regarding Mark Sanford and social conservatism - The underlying logic of the anti-gay marriage position leaves an important question open: what, then, are gay people supposed to do? Would the social conservative have them live in committed relationships, but without social or legal sanction (some religious institutions do recognize these unions, which is the irony cherry on the idiocy sundae of this entire debate)? This hardly seems like a consistent position. The best logical answer I can discern is that, according to social conservatives, people with a gay orientation should seek remedy and work toward the goal of a heterosexual life style; to live as they think God intended.
Mark Sanford's tearful confession a few weeks ago illustrates the human side of this very messy equation. I would like to note that I am not seeking to equate loving and exclusive gay relationships with the choice to have an extra-marital affair. Rather, Sanford's predicament and response demonstrates the incredibly powerful role of love, and, yes, sexuality, in people's lives.
A consistent worldview isn't too much to ask of an ideological movement that seeks to curb others' civil rights, and to imply instructions about how others should live their lives. If social conservatives want to try and impose their model of society on tolerant Americans of all faith traditions, on secular Americans, and on LGBT Americans, they should provide some better models of how to deny one's most basic emotional needs.
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