Brigham Young U, Bastion of Liberalism

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Genuine liberalism is lamentably rare in our politics and culture. I don't mean the liberalism of progressive taxation, government benefits, and federal regulations. There might not be as much of it as Democrats would prefer, but many millions of Americans support liberalism in this sense.

I mean an older vision of liberalism — one rooted in the ancient virtue of liberality, meaning generosity and openness to difference. Including, for example, openness to traditionalist religious believers whose faith keeps them from affirming the legitimacy of gay marriage. When supporters of gay marriage denounce such believers as bigots, excommunicate them from civilized life, and get them fired from prominent jobs, they think and act illiberally.