Re "IMO emotional blackmail occurs only when there is a personal relationship between the people involved.": You opinion is false. Hunger strikes whip up a lot of emotion!
Re "In the US suffragettes jailed for their beliefs went on hunger strikes and were force fed as a result. Would you say you support such action?": That's an interesting case. In the UK it is recognised that women were given the vote in recognition of their essential war work in WWI which changed public opinion in their favour (which had been less-impressed by hunger strikes). (The US case is a more complex and drawn-out business.) I did say hunger strikes may be justified in cases were free speech is outlawed. It's arguable that not having voting rights is a comparable situation. This anti-gay marriage protest doesn't qualify.
