The Democratic Party recently made history by including support for marriage equality in a revised version of its official platform. This means the Republican Party has a big decision to make - namely, whether to take the equal and opposite action of opposing marriage equality in its platform.

But a group of young conservatives have asked that they don’t. Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry sent a letter to Virginia Governor and RNC Platform Committee Chairman Bob McDonnell including multiple reasons why the party should not add opposition to marriage equality to its platform.

“Giving people more personal freedom is the foundation of the Republican Party,” states the letter. “Which, as the Party of Lincoln, has a proud tradition of expanding liberties. We respectfully request that the GOP honor that tradition as it considers how to address the freedom to marry in its plank.”

The letter cites core conservative principles of limited government and individual freedom as reasons to support marriage equality. 

“We feel strongly that excluding committed same-sex couples from marriage does not mesh with those principles,” the letter states. “Same-sex couples who want to make that commitment in life before family and friends should be able to share in that commitment under law through marriage. And, if we truly believe in family values, then we must value all families.” 

Young people like this give me hope. “Conservative” does not equal “anti-gay,” and this is proof.