The fight for marriage equality could have turned out very differently.
Imagine it’s 1989. Congress is about to pass a law forcing nonprofits to disclose their donors. The groups don’t get involved in elections, but they do call on elected officials to support or oppose specific policies — like marriage equality. The politicians who oppose it are the ones pushing this law. They want to see who’s really behind the so-called “radical homosexual agenda.”
Imagine how the advocates of marriage equality feel after the law passes. There aren’t many, but they’re running a nationwide campaign. A courageous few are publicly leading the cause, while many more are supporting it behind the scene, including through nonprofits. They’re quietly making space for others to join a groundswell of support.