For anyone that thinks gay rights are a fight already won and done with, I present to you Kansas. They are on the verge of legalizing discrimination in employment and providing services - ie, a hotel or restaurant could refuse gay customers if they are domestic partners of some sort. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kansas-gay-couples-refuse-services-bill A bill passed Wednesday by the Kansas House would allow businesses and government employees to deny services to same-sex couples on the basis of their religious beliefs, the Kansas City Star reported. It now heads to the state Senate; it has already earned the tacit endorsement of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. “Religious liberty issues are ones that I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve fought for religious liberty in many countries and with many different faiths,” Brownback told the Wichita Eagle last week, adding that he had not reviewed the bill's specific language yet. “It’s basic in the Bill of Rights.” The bill says individuals and religious entities would not be required, if they had "sincerely held religious beliefs," to: Provide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement “Discrimination is horrible. It’s hurtful. It has no place in civilized society, and that’s precisely why we’re moving this bill,” Rep. Charles Macheers, one of the Republicans who voted for the bill, said on the House floor. “There have been times throughout history where people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs because they were unpopular. This bill provides a shield of protection for that.”
If a customer disapproves of a business because they employ or do business with homosexuals, do they have the right to not do business with said company? Not that I would ever approve of such action. Obviously government employees should not be allowed to discriminate. They should be fired if they don't do their job. Supernatural beliefs are not justification to not do your job.
So what if someones religion tells them that black people are less than human? That will be ok in Kansas to refuse service? What a piece of crap state.
This sucks. They don't honor their marriage, but do highlight their relationship just so they can discriminate. All of it being done under the veil of protecting religious belief.
Really? That's your argument? That you're being discriminated against by not being allowed to discriminate against others? You've confused religious persecution with not getting everything that you want.
The law should not discriminate, but individuals should be allowed to discriminate all they want. That's what freedom is. Just like I can discriminate against any business who refuses to do business with homosexuals, they should be able to discriminate against homosexuals.
Back in the old days, gas stations in the south would refuse to sell gas to black people, basically removing their ability to travel freely. This is no different, except that it targets a different group of people. Ah...the good old days...
that's beautiful tallanvor defending the right to hate and discriminate. Can we see your robe and pointy hood?
So the strategy is, if I understand it, to say that they are entitled to refuse these things BASED ON inherent religious freedoms and rights to their ideals, all in the name of, from the angle they themselves are taking, discrimination due to difference in what they're deeming as religious views?
Soooo how is this freedom for people being discriminated against? Shouldn't they be free to use any business they choose?
Is that really what this says? [rquoter]The bill says individuals and religious entities would not be required, if they had "sincerely held religious beliefs," to: Provide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement [/rquoter] Is serving food to a gay couple in a restaurant the same thing as celebrating their partnership? The wording of the bill seems a little ambiguous to me, but I'm not sure it could legitimately be applied to the scenario you gave.
that would be an entitlement since it comes at the expense of the business. NO, you are not free to force people to do business with you (amazed this must be explained). None of you answered my question. Should a customer be allowed to discriminate against a business that is run by or employs homosexuals? They are allowed to in every state. Why can a customer discriminate and not a business? of course it is. Forcing someone to do dealings with someone they don't want to is not freedom. This is not a debate. Go pick up a dictionary.
Based on this it appears a business can refuse to host a same-sex wedding celebration, but if a same-sex couple walks in to simply have dinner, they can't be refused service.
