Is America ready for a gay president?

Sam Smith - While there is no clear answer to this question, this interesting article in the NY Times makes some good points. For example:

In 2008, a Military Times survey noted that 24 percent of service members said they would not want to serve alongside gay or lesbian troops. Citing the poll, opponents of inclusive service warned of a mass exodus that could swell to half a million troops if President Barack Obama insisted on overturning a ban. Some said the policy change could “break the all-volunteer force.”

Yet after the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy ended in 2011, nothing of the kind took place. A study written by a panel of service academy professors the next year found that “retention was unaffected” by the reversal of the policy. “There was no mass exodus of military members as a result of repeal, and there were only two verifiable resignations linked to the policy change, both military chaplains,” the report said.

A check of Gallup polling also suggests that on a percentage basis, the anti-gay crowd is even smaller than Trump's constituency. For example:

• Only 26% oppose a gay or lesbian relationship and only 36% oppose a gay or lesbian marriage.
• The approval of gays in various jobs range from 72% for clergy members to 95% for sales persons. 
• 88% would accept a gay member of the president's cabinet. 

None of this assures that in a time when prejudice is an official doctrine of the White House, that Buttigieg won't run into serious problems. One thing, however, we can do to aid such issues as abortion and gay rights is to press the argument for reciprocal liberty: I can't have my freedom if you don't have yours. I tell people, if you don't  like gay marriage, don't marry a gay. Diversity includes diversity you don't like

Describing David Hackett Fischer's discussion in 'Albion's Seed' of the difference in the view of freedom within the American colonies, Leonard J. Wilson writes, "Their contrasting concepts of liberty are among the most visible today. The Puritan concept of liberty, 'ordered liberty' in Fischer's terminology, focused on the 'freedom' to conform to the policies of the Puritan Church and local government. The Virginia concept of liberty, 'hegemonic liberty', was hierarchical in nature, ranging from the great freedom of those in positions of power and wealth down to the total lack of freedom accorded to slaves. The Quaker concept of liberty, 'reciprocal liberty', focused on the aspects of freedom that were held equally by all people as opposed to the unequal and asymmetric freedoms of the Puritans and Virginians. Finally, the Scotch-Irish concept of liberty, 'natural liberty', focused on the natural rights of the individual and his freedom from government coercion."

Buttigieg has his work cut out for him, but if he can find ways to identify with Americans on issues far more important to them then gay rights, it may work out to his favor.