“What if litmus tests become common?” asks Dave Winer. Go read it. It’s short. I’ll wait.

In applying for a board position, I was asked a litmus test question. I answered truthfully, “I don’t agree with all of these statements.” I specifically pointed out my disagreement and why. And I still got the position. But I might not have.¹And as an unpaid, volunteer position, the monetary impact on me would have been nil. I’m not tooting my horn too hard here. But it was a position I wanted.

Those of us who value diversity need to be willing to answer honestly. After all, if an organization won’t hire me because of my human rights values, do I really want to spend the majority of my waking hours around narrow-minded bigots?²Yes, I understand intolerance of intolerance. But integrity should limit one’s tactics.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating all should have the same values or that I would work only with those who share my values. I like Andrew Sullivan’s view:

If we cannot live and work alongside people with whom we deeply disagree, we are finished as a liberal society.

Gay marriage seems to be a dangerous topic these days. But it shouldn’t be.³Here is my post on Prop 8.

• 1
  And as an unpaid, volunteer position, the monetary impact on me would have been nil. I’m not tooting my horn too hard here. But it was a position I wanted.
• 2
  Yes, I understand intolerance of intolerance. But integrity should limit one’s tactics.
• 3
  Here is my post on Prop 8.