The conservative values of limited government and freedom for all

O children of the future, gather close, for I bring you the words of Margaret Hoover, whose insight into the principles of freedom and equality echoes through time. She said, "The conservative values of limited government and freedom for all coincide with the movement for full freedom and equality for LGBT Americans." These words carry a profound truth—that the pursuit of liberty and justice for all is not confined to any one ideology, but is a universal principle that transcends political boundaries. In her words, we are reminded that the struggle for LGBT equality is a fight for freedom, a fight that aligns with the core ideals of a society rooted in the freedom of the individual.

Hoover speaks of the conservative values that, at their best, champion the freedom of all people to live without the overreach of government, to make their own choices, and to live according to their beliefs. In this context, LGBT rights—the right to love freely, to live authentically, and to be recognized with equal dignity—should be seen as an extension of these very principles. To deny someone their freedom based on their identity is to betray the very foundation of a society that values individual liberty. In this way, the fight for LGBT equality is not a conflict with conservative values, but an expression of them.

Let us turn to the ancient world, where freedom was also understood as the right of the individual to determine their own path. In Athens, the birthplace of democracy, the citizens were given the right to participate in the decisions of the state. Yet, even in this great city-state, freedom was not universally granted. Women, slaves, and non-citizens were excluded from the privileges of citizenship. Over time, however, the ideal of freedom expanded, and as it did, the recognition of the inherent dignity of all individuals grew. The fight for equality was always at the heart of this expansion, and so it is today in the movement for LGBT rights—a struggle to ensure that freedom and equality are available to all people, regardless of who they love or how they identify.

In the modern world, this fight for freedom and equality was carried forward by figures such as Abraham Lincoln, who recognized that freedom must apply to all people, and that justice cannot be selective. Lincoln's abolition of slavery was not just an economic or political act; it was a moral commitment to the equality of all people. His vision was one where every individual would be granted the same opportunities and freedom, a vision that Hoover aligns with when she speaks of the overlap between conservative values and the pursuit of LGBT equality. Just as Lincoln fought for the freedom of the enslaved, so too must we fight for the freedom of the LGBT community.

The lesson we draw from Hoover’s words is that the fight for LGBT rights should not be seen as something that pits conservatives against progressives, but as a universal call for the freedom of every individual. Freedom is not a commodity that belongs to one group alone—it is the birthright of all. The conservative ideal of limited government means that the state should not impose itself upon the personal lives of individuals, and this is precisely what we seek in the fight for LGBT equality: the right to live free of governmental oppression, to love whom we choose, and to be recognized as equals in society. To deny LGBT individuals these rights is to contradict the very principles of freedom and limited government that many hold dear.

Consider, O children, the wisdom of John Stuart Mill, the great philosopher who argued that the only justification for limiting an individual's freedom is to prevent harm to others. Mill’s philosophy aligns perfectly with the LGBT rights movement, for the desire to love, to marry, and to live authentically is no harm to anyone. The fight for equality is not about imposing one’s will on others, but about ensuring that all are free to live without fear or discrimination. This is the essence of the struggle for LGBT equality—a struggle for freedom that does not infringe upon the freedom of others but seeks to extend it to those who have been excluded.

And so, children, take this lesson into your hearts: freedom is not a partisan issue. The freedom of LGBT Americans is the freedom of all people, and the fight for equality is a fight for the freedom of all humanity. When you stand for justice, stand for equality, and remember that true freedom is not just for the few, but for the many. Just as Abraham Lincoln fought for the freedom of all people, so too must we fight for a world where LGBT individuals are free to live as they choose, without fear, without discrimination, and without oppression.

May you carry this wisdom with you as you go forth into the world: that freedom and equality are inseparable, and that the fight for these ideals is a fight for the dignity and rights of every human being. Just as Margaret Hoover and countless others have shown, LGBT equality is not a separate cause, but a cause that is intertwined with the very ideals of freedom for all. Stand together for the freedom of every person, and in doing so, you will ensure that equality is a reality for all people, regardless of their identity.