Listen: Andrew Sullivan Vs. Maggie Gallagher At The Cato Institute
“Gay people are not vessels for votes.”
Today, at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., conservative British author and editor, and blogger at The Atlantic, Andrew Sullivan, debated National Organization for Marriage (NOM) President Maggie Gallagher. British MP Nick Herbert gave an incredible introduction and set the stage.
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank which claims to exist “to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace.”
Herbert made so many great points. This audio misses the first few minutes of his speech (apologies!) Herbert ends just before 16 minutes, and leaves you with this:
“Let us be clear about the kind of society we want to build. One where a child can go to school without being bullied because of his or her sexuality, where people can be honest with their friends and families and not live a lie…where a public declaration of life-long commitment to another person can be made by anyone…where the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom or the president of the United States could just as easily be gay, as black.”
It’s important to me to note the following. I believe true conservatives have a great deal of good in their minds and hearts. I also believe that the world they live in is not real. To be totally honest, in my youth I probably was a libertarian, without realizing it. But when I grew up, and lived in the real world, I saw what the world was doing to people — poor people, gay people, minorities, etc., and knew that it took laws and strong leadership to create a world that protects us from those who would do us harm.
I hope you’ll listen to the complete audio. It’s about an hour and a half, and worth every minute. There’s a bit of a smack-down towards the end, between Andrew Sullivan and Maggie Gallagher.

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |