MovieChat Forums > Outrage (2009) Discussion > Fact-check: Institute for Justice is ant...

Fact-check: Institute for Justice is anti-gay marriage?

posted 14 years ago by tjc59
3 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone know why the director chose to lump the Institute for Justice in with the other conservative, anti-gay marriage think tanks in DC mentioned in the film? The Institute for Justice follows a very libertarian philosophy, and therefore cannot possibly have an anti-gay agenda. They fight passionately for individual rights (that includes gays), and frankly, as a libertarian myself, I found Mr. Dick's decision to plaster the organization's logo along side the Heritage Foundation and Judicial Watch, two truly anti-gay organizations, insulting and very much misinformed.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, I did some research, but was unable to find a even a shred of evidence to his credit. As innocuous and trivial as it may seem, I thought Dick's association was quite damaging. Libertarians take a beating from both the left and the right already, when we can even manage to get our views mentioned in the media. So when an Oscar-nominated director creates a feature film which accuses a pro-individual rights organization such as IJ of being just another conservative, anti-gay group, it unfairly damages an already unfamiliar and often misunderstood philosophy. Does anyone out there have any insight into this?

[–] repete66211 14 years ago

I don't recall this group or any other being specifically highlighted as anti-gay marriage in this documentary (not "feature film"). Assuming it was, I wasn't able to find any evidence indicating the Institute for Justice is anti-gay marriage. I wasn't able to find their position on the issue at all, although I've submitted an email for clarification. That said, I have seen at least one self-professed Libertarian group (can't remember the name) that is anti-gay marriage, so while you can say such groups aren't truly Libertarian it doesn't change the fact that some who identify as Libertarian hold such a position.

[–] tjc59 14 years ago

I guess feature-length documentary was the term I should have used. The scene I am referring to was late in the film, I believe, when it talked about all the conservative organizations popping up in DC, and asserted that all these groups decided to take up the cause of banning gay marriage, because it was a divisive yet easy target. They displayed about 5 or 6 different organizations on the screen, implying that these are the groups they were referring to, but I don't believe they ever mentioned any of them by name.

I will be the first to say that libertarianism as a philosophy is really in the eye of the beholder. But the basic principle is that the freer we are, the better things are for everyone. Personally, I am against all marriage as a legally recognized relationship. All the tax benefits (and then some) of marriage are unfair to those of us who choose to remain single.

That aside, in reality marriage IS a legally recognized relationship, and anyone against allowing gays the right to marry is anti-liberty, and therefore not a libertarian. It would not come as a surprise to me to hear of a "self-professed Libertarian group...that is anti-gay marriage", but it certainly doesn't mean that they should be considered as such. That's like people who try to reconcile the theory of evolution and Christianity; you can't simultaneously hold two mutually exclusive views and expect people to take you seriously.

Thanks for the follow-up, I actually didn't expect anyone to respond.

[–] jdcarlin 14 years ago

The group has been hostile to same sex marriage in the past, such as cases of opposing disclosure of those who gave money to and against same sex marriage.

FYI, many groups for prop 8 sent letters to those opposing it demanding money in kind or they'd publicize their names. And now they cry that their names are being published.

"The names of any companies and organization that choose not to donate in a like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/btb/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/prop8t hreatletter.pdf