Florida has just adopted two new drug testing requirements: one imposed on welfare recipients and the other on state employees. It is not without irony that these quintessential illustrations of Big Government were promoted by the Tea Party.

Prop. 8 backers want Judge Vaughn Walker to be recused because he is gay, but they're trying not to admit that. How can they argue with a straight face that they aren't basing their argument on his sexual orientation?

This past year has seen a remarkable shift when it comes to gay rights. From repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell to New York's legalization of same-sex marriage, America is finally embracing equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. It is only through altering how the law treats LGBT people that we can uphold the principles at the very heart of American democracy. Surprisingly, Republicans have played a vital role in this transformation.