Olson is different – a man of impeccable establishment conservative credentials who sees the injustice and perversity of singling out gay couples for truly punitive government discrimination. And his lawsuit, which I began by fearing, seems to me to be a truly breakthrough event. His rationale is laid out in Newsweek. It is the best summation of the conservative case for marriage equality by a straight guy I have ever read. And I’d be lying if I didn’t find tears in my eyes by the end of it.

Please read it. Its logic is so strong, its argument so solid, its empathy so vivid it reminds me of what a small government, inclusive, tolerant conservatism could truly be. It reminds me of how conservatism could and should be recast – and not as a p.r. message but as a reality – in defense of minority civil rights. It reminds me of when the GOP was not essentially a product of Dixie.

The arguments are mostly familiar to me, of course. But they are laid out with admirable candor and conviction.

Read the rest of Andrew Sullivan’s blog post here.