Religious Freedom and the NSA Gatecrashers

[neadods]

Some thoughts on the latest headlines:

1) News about the NSA gatecrashers is hard to get, but the tiny scraps that are being released are starting to sound less and less like "men in drag to avoid police" and "transwomen being called men in dresses." That's concerning. (How one presents and wishes to be addressed has little bearing on one's other actions. Personally, I have no problem calling Manning both "she" and "traitor." They're two different concepts.)

2) I actually believe Mike Pence when he says he didn't expect the blowback he's getting for signing a "it's not okay to be gay and want services" law in Indiana. Look at the people smiling at the signing ceremony - he's been shut in an echo chamber for so long he didn't expect the roar when the doors opened. (The Susan G Komen foundation could have told him. They're still recovering from listening to people telling them that their grassroots all agreed that Planned Parenthood is bad because dead babies and so Komen should cut off PP grants in 2012. The blowback was not only furious, it had an instant and lasting effect on Komen's bottom line.)

This hasn't stopped Arkansas from passing a near-identical law. AK also recently passed a state law saying that no city or county could pass more *liberal* laws than the state does, so all the cities where GLBTetc folks were a protected class has already been rolled back. Reality TV "stars" the Duggars are thrilled, but their Duggarnaut is hardly going to save the state economy when Toyota and Walmart lash back.

At least one of the GOP Presidential contenders - Rubio? - has gone on record saying that the Indiana law is good precisely because it doesn't force Christian service providers to provide service to those icky gay people wanting to get married. Been nice knowing you, time to close up the PAC and go home. Anyone can tell that the Supreme Court actually has no choice but to declare the gay Loving v Virginia this year. Otherwise, they'd be rolling back marriage rights and nullifying marriages in 3/4 of the country. I'm sure that everyone who claims that the will of the majority rules when a gay marriage ban is voted in will understand that the will of the majority rules when it changes federal law. (/sarcasm)

Comments

[redpanda13.livejournal.com]

There is some hope: the Arkansas governor refused to sign the bill as is. Of course he may be taking his marching orders from WalMart, but in this case it helps.

A number of cartoonists are stressing the good old fashioned "No coloreds allowed" aspect of not having to deal with certain kinds of people.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

There's been a great meme going around facebook with the caption "We decided you can't stop people from sitting at the lunch counter in the 1960s."

And the Stupidity Continues....

[not-hathor.livejournal.com]

Next thing, they'll be wanting some kind of 'gay/lesbian' identifier, otherwise those nasty people might try to trick a good righteous business owner into accidentally serving them.... maybe a special ID card or a sticker on their driver's license.... because, you know, you can't always tell just from looking..... (end sarcastic rant)

Because, seriously? Unless someone flat out tells a service provider, 'This is for a gay/lesbian individual or couple'-- What are they going to do, simply decide 'those folks dress weird, act weird --must be gay', and/or refuse to serve any single-gendered group because there's a chance that they are all gays/lesbians?

Rant prompted by news reports of (anonymous) restaurant owners proudly claiming to already be refusing service to 'those types'

Re: And the Stupidity Continues....

[redpanda13.livejournal.com]

A pink triangle for the gays, a yellow star for the Jews... It worked in Nazi Germany.

Re: And the Stupidity Continues....

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is precisely what they'll do. Anyone who, in the deep recesses of their tiny little brains, appears to fit the "OMG GAY!" pattern will be refused. And good luck trying to "prove" that you're not; plenty of straight people have been gay-bashed because they were "different". Oh, and the law protects the businesses from civil suits too. It's a straight-up* License To Be An Asshole With No Consequences Ever.

* Pun not intentional, but too apropos to change.

[amethyst-hunter.livejournal.com]

Bullies are always shocked when their intended targets hit back (whether figuratively or literally). Pence deserves every bit of misery he's getting.

And it's a safe bet that all the GOP candidates support the Indiana law or equally-icky versions of it, which is yet another good reason never to vote Republican ever again.