Last month, in Charlottesville, Va., Americans were given an unfortunate lesson in how extreme political fights can quickly mutate into literal fights to the death. But there is a better way to resolve many contentious issues in American politics today. And it can begin at the U.S. Supreme Court.

We, the two authors of this piece, are something of an odd couple. One of us is an advocate for LGBT equality, the other an advocate for religious freedom. Two years ago, we began a discussion about gay rights and religious liberty. We learned something that the country sorely needs today: Dialogue centered on genuine equality, through mutual accommodation, is a better way forward than culture wars grounded in political fights to the death.