Kim Davis conflict is all about the optics

I agree with The Bee that Kim Davis will not be an effective poster child for religious liberty. However, I have no sympathy for The Bee’s whining about the attention she has received.

Furthering a political agenda is ultimately not about facts but about optics – if enough people are made to sympathize with the favored narrative, that narrative becomes the “truth.” This has been a staple of sexual politics on the left for years, with little attention from The Bee.

Judicial imposition of same-sex marriage has altered the equation by creating opportunities for religious conservatives to develop narratives of hardship and victimization that resonate much more strongly with Americans. The progressive left’s ability to exercise self-restraint and allow reasonable compromise on the religious liberty issue will determine just how compelling the persecution narrative becomes.

The tables may be turning, and The Bee would do better by advocating for meaningful compromises between religious and sexual liberty instead of trying to discredit a narrative that will only grow in the absence of such compromise. If the optics of victimization (left or right) look good enough to sway public attitudes, The Bee’s opinion will not matter one whit.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 6:13 AM with the headline "Kim Davis conflict is all about the optics."