THE NEW YORK TIMES: RECONCILIATION ON GAY MARRIAGE

David Blankenhorn and Jonathan Rauch disagree on the issue of gay marriage, but they agree that the time is ripe for a deal that could give each side what it most needs in the short run, while moving the debate onto a healthier, calmer track in the years ahead.

“Whatever our disagreements on the merits of gay marriage, we agree on two facts. First, most gay and lesbian Americans feel they need and deserve the perquisites and protections that accompany legal marriage. Second, many Americans of faith and many religious organizations have strong objections to same-sex unions. Neither of those realities is likely to change any time soon.”

“Most gays are opposed to the idea that religious organizations could openly treat same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples differently, without fear of being penalized by the government. But we believe that gays can live with such exemptions without much difficulty. Why? Because most state laws that protect gays from discrimination already include some religious exemptions, and those provisions are for the most part uncontroversial, even among gays.”

Question to the Blogosphere:  What do you think of this argument?  Do you think that there will be reconciliation on a large scale between the religious groups and the gay community?  Can you think of any other instances when gay rights and religious freedom were reconciled?  Can religious freedom mean discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation?  Are there any laws against this?