On Socialism and Gay Liberation

"Revolutionary politics, debate and entertainment" is the slogan for this years socialist conference, titled Socialism 2009, held in San Francisco and currently in my hometown of Chicago. There is going to be a discussion on "Women's and LGBT Liberation". The topics include the following:

1. Stonewall: Birth of Gay Power
2. Sexuality and Socialism
3. Why Does Capitalism Need the Family?
4. How Can Women be Liberated?

Sounds like some good stuff, but I think that this conference is a bunch of propaganda meant to sway unsuspecting young minds that capitalism is dead (or on the verge of death) and that a return to socialism is the only legitimate economic system able to liberate women and gays. I don't agree with this conference's "revolutionary" viewpoint because evidence shows that capitalism is the best economic structure able to afford rights to women and gays.

First, capitalism is founded on personal decision making and requires people to be skeptical of government actions, while socialism favors collective thinking and advocates government ownership of the means of production and a society characterized by egalitarianism and more equal rights. These principles of socialism sound very attractive. However, in the long run a more prosperous economy, driven by capitalism's emphasis on economic efficiency, lends itself very well to granting equal rights. For example, women in all capitalist states have equal rights and gay rights is headed towards full liberation in due time.

Moreover, history shows that socialism might be popular in the short-term, but with time the populace becomes miffed and disillusioned with the state's control. Read: the collapse of communist Russia, the current shift to the right of the European Union and the steady decline of the kibbutiz movement in Israel. So, capitalism is the correct conduit for the continued liberation of the gay community since long-term and permanent liberation is what we aim to achieve. If you attend the conference I would like to hear how the conversations unfold.

Do you think capitalism favors gay rights?