There was a day when equal rights for Black Americans was the cause celebre of the Left. But for more than a decade now, gay rights have trumped Black rights. Why? There was a day when equal rights for women was the cause celebre of the Left. But in recent years, trans rights have trumped women's rights. Why has this happened? I believe I have the answer.
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So, why is it that the same group of people (meaning the "progressives" or "the Left") who fought so tenaciously for Black rights now make that cause secondary to gay rights? And why is it that the same group of people who fought so tenaciously for women's rights now make that cause secondary to trans rights?

I believe the answer is staring us right in the face: it was not Blacks or gays or women or transgenders who were the ultimate issue. It was challenging the status quo that was the ultimate issue. It was rebelling against the system. It was saying no to the prevailing tradition of the hour, whether that tradition was bad (such as segregation) or that tradition is good (such as the integrity of women's sports).

Put another way, in the end, a radical agenda was more important than people (be they Blacks, women, gays or transgenders). And so, to this hour, what ultimately drives this radical, leftist agenda is not so much compassion but rather the "leftness" of the ideology.

I'm sure that there are many caring leftists. And I'm sure many of them have been grieved at what they perceive to be real inequalities and injustices. In fact, many on the Left feel aggrieved for themselves, as they too are Black or female or identify as gay or trans, and they too suffered mistreatment.
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That's why, in the days ahead, something else might arise to push trans rights to the side. And on and on it goes.

How then, do we combat this radical leftist agenda? By exposing its moral hypocrisy. By demonstrating a heart of compassion for each group and individual. And by striving for equality under the law for all.