<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Dish]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://dish.andrewsullivan.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Andrew Sullivan]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/author/sullydish/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Leave The Gay Marriage Opponents&nbsp;Alone]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>If you run a public accommodation and use it to refuse service to a minority, you&#8217;re on the wrong side of the law (at least since the Civil Rights Movement). So why am I concerned by the latest case of a <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/11/10/couple-fined-for-refusing-to-host-same-sex-wedding-on-their-farm/">lesbian couple suing a family business</a> that refused to rent out their property for a same-sex wedding? Simply because they got married elsewhere, with no problems, and because it makes sense to me &#8211; as someone interested in a <em>civil</em> society &#8211; not to press conflict on culture war issues when a less aggressive and counter-productive strategy is perfectly possible. Also because you deny the New York Post and the victimhood-right a chance to crow about gay suppression of religious freedom. We are <a href="https://themennonite.org/opinion/open-letter-beloved-church/" target="_blank">winning the argument</a>; we are winning the culture. There&#8217;s no point on forcing our opponents to lose face as well as losing the debate. Magnanimity, restraint and gradual progress. It&#8217;s gotten us a very long way already. We should trust this strategy to the end.</p>
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