What this new push tells us is that, despite the astonishing staying power of the GOP clown show featuring our favorite demagogues, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, it’s important not to view Republicans as a monolith. Instead, we should view them in a more nuanced light. There is a small but growing number of Republicans who recognize that staying true to the values of limited government and individual liberty means believing in a world where gays and lesbians are treated equally.

This is why, for the first time, a majority of Americans believe gays and lesbians should have the right to marry and almost 80 percent say they should be allowed to serve our country openly in the military.

If we see a return of the rational right, LGBT equality may finally transcend petty partisanship. This new brand of Republicans is the only group that can influence the GOP’s mainstream. If they do, we may see a day when fundamental beliefs in American fairness and equality are applied to all citizens regardless of their orientation.