Do Ask, Do Tell: A Gay Conservative Lashes Back

The original Bill of Rights, sponsored largely by James Madison, is now about 210 years old. Reinforced by the Fourteenth Amendment, which eventually applied many of its provisions to the states, it has served us well. It is time to re-evaluate our fundamental constitutional rights and to seriously consider their major renovation. This is my central proposal.

Are we ready to trust ourselves as individuals with the personal responsibilities that go with rights? When government defines person...