Some of my recent diaries have addressed some of NOM's blog posts about a survey by JP Morgan Chase asking its employees if they are "an ally of the LGBT community". It now looks like such a survey does exist.
I think that this is not a good situation. Before I elaborate on that, I want to mention one other thing.
Last April, I took NOM's side when they called for an apology from New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm, after he suggested that marriage equality opponents shouldn't even be allowed to think it. That was a controversial diary, so I want to be clear this time.
I am not in any way claiming that NOM's work has any legitimacy or value at all. Very little could be further from the truth. That I agree with them over the inappropriateness of this survey does not mean I agree with them about anything else.
I have absolutely no problem with marriage equality opposition being an unpopular position that makes people uncomfortable to hold. That is, in fact, what I want. The same thing has happened with racism and interracial marriage opposition, and no one would question that that's right. It should be that way for same-sex marriage as well.
I am not claiming that NOM can now claim any persecuted victim minority status. They absolutely cannot. Whatever discomfort they feel is absolutely nothing to that of many LGBT people around the country and the world.
What I am claiming is that marriage equality opposition is truly absurd, but it shouldn't be a reason to make it so someone can't have a stable life and security in their job. The other thing that worries me is that it may reflect badly on us as a movement. I don't want to give our opponents any ammunition to claim that we are intolerant.
What I think should happen is that JP Morgan Chase should publicly state its support for full LGBT equality, but apologize for putting its employees in an uncomfortable position by asking an intrusive question. That way, we get a company supportive of our movement as well as a perception among the public that we are tolerant.