There have been two instances in the news recently where institutions have opted to deny everyone the right to something than allow a queer person to participate in it with a same-sex partner. First, the DC Archdiocese has decided to no longer offer Catholic Charities employees the option of covering their spouses on their health insurance. Second, a Mississippi school district decided to cancel prom rather than allow a female student to bring a same-sex date.

This week was a huge win for the gay community, as the District of Columbia started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The District saw its first gay marriages, striking joy in the hearts of many, and anger in the hearts of a few.

But despite all this happiness, I can’t help but wonder: are our priorities in the right place? I asked the TNG staff to respond to the following question:

ENDA, DADT, SSM (same sex marriage), Oh My! With so many things to struggle for, is the queer rights movement focusing on the right things? Or will any success in any arena help further the cause in the long run? What do you think should be the priority for the queer/LGBT rights movement?

Read below to see what they had to say on the topic.

“Your visa petition . . . for classification of Anthony Corbett Sullivan as the spouse of a United States citizen [is] denied for the following reasons: You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots.” Letter from Immigration and Naturalization Service to Richard Adams (Nov. 24, 1975).

Perhaps the cruelest form of governmental discrimination faced by gays and lesbians in America is that they cannot sponsor a foreign-born life partner for permanent residency. A straight foreigner can gain legal status by merely becoming a citizen’s fiancée. But gay and lesbian couples are strangers in the eyes of an immigration judge, even if their relationship spans the entirety of their adult lives.

The phrase “Gay is the New Black” has been around for a long time, but has recently gained greater popularity within and outside of the gay community as gay-rights activists take to the streets to protest of anti-gay legislation or in support for marriage-equality measures; and coordinate state-wide campaigns across the country. There is the unsettled debate over whether or not it was ever appropriate to refer to something as “the New Black”, in particular something such as gay-rights, an issue with which some prominent elements of the African-American community has not had the best of relationships.

The haters tried to spoil the party, but love won the day. I would try to describe the feeling of being there, but I wouldn’t be able to do it justice, so I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

“Moments before the first marriage applicants walked out of the courthouse, the Fred Phelps gang of loonies were spreading their hate. Remember, friends, despite our slowly unfolding successes, there are many challenges ahead.”

The Friday Staff Survey has been on hiatus for a while, but it’s back with a special DC Gay Marriage Wednesday Edition. This week, we asked TNG contributors the following question:

As federal tacit approval of DC’s marriage equality bill is pending, what’s your opinion on marriage? Hackneyed institution? Civil right? Something else?

Feel free to leave your perspectives in the comments.

Tom Campbell is a “moderate” Republican who supports gay rights, including gay marriage. But he just lost my vote. Supporting minority rights is meaningless if you don’t support our ability to defend them in Court.

Being out at work isn’t always all fun and games or about friendship and transparency. In some careers and at some companies, acceptance isn’t as ubiquitous as we would hope. Admittedly, in my field folks tend to be more liberal. I’ve been lucky – I’m out, I’m open and I’m normal

If people are already in the military and gay—from my former unit alone I know close to a dozen—what is it that people are afraid will happen with the repeal of DADT? Are people afraid that the day after DADT is rescinded, gay soldiers are going to walk in wearing feather boas and buttless fatigues? The uniform policy will still be in effect so we can cross that option out. Are people afraid that it’s going to hurt troop morale? The military suicide rate is at a thirty year high having consistently risen for the past five years, with eighteen veterans killing themselves everyday (according to the VA) so it seems like it can’t get any worse.