As a gay man and somebody who thinks and often writes about LGBTQ equality in the United States, I’ve long feared a balkanization of tolerance or acceptance. We see that sort of thing in practice on a smaller scale already. Living as an openly LGBTQ person in parts of Texas (or fill in the Red State blank) can be a frightening experience, and the GOP has been trying to make it more frightening by doing things like trying to push through policies that allow licensed professionals (even plumbers and electricians) to refuse services to classes if people based on "conscience."

These sorts of things are less publicly noticed than more outrageous bills that get lots of attention, but they certainly reveal the party’s intentions or inclinations. If they could forbid same-sex marriage, of course they would, and in a New York minute, pardon the pun.

It used to be taken for granted that members of gender and sexual minorities had to leave their homes and go to big cities to have any chance at a fulfilling life. We thought we’d gotten past that. We thought we could live anywhere in the United States without facing undo discrimination, because we thought the courts would protect us.

Clearly, we’re going to need to do some clear, hard thinking over the next few years.