Jo-Ann Armao, writing about same-sex marriage for the Washington Post, argues that “the inalienable rights of human beings cannot — and should not — be subject to a popularity contest.” Is she against legislators voting on the issue? No. Judges? No, again. It’s only when the electorate at large votes that she has an objection. Maybe there is a good reason for thinking that these issues should not be decided by a popular referendum; but this argument about popularity contests, although widespread, is not one of them.