The idea of harm should feature prominently in any discussion of LGBT rights but it has faded into oblivion here. Charles Wohlforth writes that "Judge Victor Carlson's career was destroyed because he was gay." Now that's real and long-lasting harm.  Being denied employment because you are gay is real harm. Being evicted or denied a place to live is real harm. Living in fear that you will be mocked and vilified is to suffer real harm. Being mocked and vilified is even worse. Judge Carlson very probably refuses to name his husband because of the harm he fears the man might suffer. My guess is that Judge Carlson allowed himself to be interviewed because he feels he is economically secure and less vulnerable to harm than other members of the LGBT community. The national debate about wedding cakes isn't really about speech, it's about harm. The fight isn't about whether anti-LGBT views will remain socially acceptable -- it's about whether they will continue to cause harm.