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Originally Posted by martinguerre
I'd disagree...in both cases, there is a demonstrated need for both policies...these are not nicities. Read gilda's thread about the accident...without marriage being available, there can be serious barriers to having one's partner be present after an accident or life threatening illness. Simply, there is no principled reason, IMO, for a queer person to not support queer rights: the right to have your partner visit you in the hospital, the right to be financially linked, the right to be a family, the right to be protected by the law. If somebody wants to get elected by denying me those basic rights, then its on.
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Principled reason for being against gay marriage: the fear that it'll destabilize the entire institution of marriage. I didn't say anything about the reasoning being solid, mind you.
Principled reason for being against hate crime legislation: crimes should not be treated differently based on the identity of the victim.
I see no reason why anyone, gay or straight, couldn't claim either principle. If you wish to argue that the reasoning of these plrinciples is flawed, you'll have a new argument on one hand (hate crime legislation) and agreement on the other (gay marriage). But if you can't see how a gay person might stand against these policies in principle, then I don't think you're being imaginative enough.
I did read Gilda's thread, by the way, and I think it's a terrible shame. Whether through gay marriage or though some other sufficient method, this needs to change.