‘MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX!’: How social conservatives can win by losing. Simon's right. The social conservatives have already won the abortion battle (thanks to technology) and should -- if they're smart -- turn their efforts to promoting adoption. As for gay rights, let anyone register a 'civil union' with the government to ensure property rights (which, when you think of it, is the original purpose of marriage) and let 'marriage' be the domain of the churches.