Earlier in the week I was on a LGBT panel for a class in physiology and there was a woman there who by her dress indicated that she was Muslim. Toward the end of class she finally raised her hand and made a statement, she said that she doesn’t understand why people hate people who are different, why can’t people just accept us as we are?
The subject came up last night when I was talking to some friends after dinner, one friend said that her whole family disowned her when she came out except two members and they both were Iraqi war veterans.
When I came out to my relatives the person that I thought would never support me because of her religious beliefs was my first relative to invite me to come to Thanksgiving as Diana.
When we were trying to pass the anti-discrimination law her in Connecticut, some of our strongest supporter was a coalition of churches.
I think the biggest stressor in coming out is that uncertainty, you never know who your allies will be.
I do not often comment on your blog because so many of your blog posts contain vitriolic and bigoted swipes at republicans and conservatives. I am not one who believes that we need a massive tax supported government and laws that regulate every aspect of our lives. My tendency is to be a conservative libertarian. Everyone should have the right, freedom and liberty to lead the lift that they choose. At the same time I should not be able to force my beliefs and conduct on others nor look to the government to establish one form of conduct to the exclusion of others.
ReplyDeleteOne of the early books that I read that put forth this conservative libertarian program was James Buckley's "If Men Were Angels" which expanded on the original quote from Thomas Jefferson. I do not think that we can achieve a society of no laws and I recognize that there is a need for government on both the local and national level but our government has grown so big and powerful that it is scary.
I expected that Governor Brewer would veto the bill because she is inherently a libertarian. I did not care for the media's portrayal of that 41 line bit of legislation as being discriminatory or hateful. I saw it as unnecessary and without a purpose to clutter the books. If you read the language of the now vetoed bill you will see that it was a means to provide protection for those whose deep felt beliefs were at odds with others. It was a long way from the establishment of a religion.
If you like ham sandwiches or BLTs and you go to a kosher deli and ask for either and are told that they do not carry non-kosher food should you be able to sue them? If you are in the printing business and the folks from the West Boro Baptist Church came in asking you to print signs that were hateful towards gays would you want the right to decline their business without fear of litigation. While I may believe in gay marriage should my belief be stronger than yours if you believe that marriage is a religious compact between a man and a woman. If you have that belief and you operate a bakery should you have to stock cake top decorations of two men or two women together or risk losing your business to a law suit. If I go into your bakery and you have not used your money to purchase a cake top decoration of two men or two women I have the right to go find a different bakery. Every day I go to some store or another and fail to find the item I need. I just take my business elsewhere.
These are real life situations that I see people face all the time. I see little good if things devolve into name calling.
It is bigoted conduct for people to resort to personal attacks against those who have different opinions.
Pat
Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteNowhere in any anti-discrimination law does it say that you have to change your religious believes all the law says is that you have to treat everyone equally. As I say in other posts, you can have all the anti-gay signs and posters up in your store that you want.
When you tell someone that they do not have to obey a law because of their beliefs and other people who do not have the same beliefs; I believe it is promoting one religion over another. Whether you are right or I am right, we are going to have to wait for the Supreme Court to hear a case on this issue because otherwise it is just out opinions.
Let me ask you a question, do you believe a business can refuse to serve blacks? After all some people believe that the Bible does justify segregation.
You are right in that I wouldn’t want to print up signs for someone from the West Boro Baptist Church but under the anti-discrimination laws I cannot turn him away. The laws are not just for gays, the law says “sexual orientation” and being straight is a “sexual orientation,” it is protected under the non-discrimination laws.
As for your example about it doesn’t fit. The laws do not cover what you sell only who you sell it to.
People have interpreted the Bible in a number of ways. I do not believe that the Bible or the Lord teaches or condones discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to see what the courts do although I am sure that both of us can point to many court decisions with which we disagree. My issues tend to be with the massive growth of government and its intrusions in our lives and our pockets. Every dollar of taxes that you are forced to pay is one less dollar that you have the free will to spend.
What gets to me is when folks call names and demean and insult others rather than engaging in open debate.
As I mentioned I felt confident that Brewer would veto the bill. I liked your post about not know who your friends and foes may be. Romney, McCain, Flake and many other republicans called on her to exercise her veto. While her veto statement was reasoned and honest I harbor the feeling that she feels like me that you cannot legislate every aspect of human conduct and interaction.
Pax
Pat
PS: You do have my support in all of you outreach work