Maybe I'm one of those bleedin'-heart progressives, but I happen to believe that securing legal protection for people who are a part of minorities, such as ethnicities, religion and sexuality/gender identity, is amongst some of the most basic fundamental rights that can be granted in a modern society. I cannot come up with a single good reason as to why any minorities should be exempt from anti-discrimination laws.
Which would explain my indignation upon learning that the town of Goshen in Indiana has just voted against anti-discrimination laws for GLBT people.
The council voted 4 to 3 against the ordinance that would make it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation.Councilman and co-sponsor of the ordinance Chic Lantz switched his vote. According to our news partners at the Elkhart Truth, he originally supported the ordinance in its first reading, but now says he's changed his mind after looking at similar laws in other cities.
More than 500 people showed up to the meeting and most wanted to share their opinion on the ordinance that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected classes. Other classes already included are race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin and ancestry.
Seriously ... what the hell? What sort of regarded, cave-dwelling yahoo would vote against something intended to outlaw discrimination against people based on their sexualities?
Oh, duh – the religious ones, of course.
Some speakers discussed religious reasons for their stance on the law."This is an issue of morals, if we start telling people in our schools everything's okay, where do we draw the line? I want to know where do we draw the line," said one resident who said he talked with his pastor about the ordinance.
*LE GASP!* That's right, how horrible! It would set people on a slippery slope towards tolerance and acceptance of others despite of their differences! We must draw a line, otherwise who knows? Next thing you know, we'll be allowing gay Jewish Black dogs to marry and have kids!
(Okay, I may have overdone that last one.)
But as bad as the article itself is, reading some of the comments just makes me wanna cry. (Heck, it's got Jen screaming in rage.)
Want is happening to the morals of this country. Just because Christians choose to honor God and respect the fact that the Bible teaches that a man and woman belong together not a woman and woman or a man or man doesn't mean we are bigots. A sin is a sin and to say you were born this way is just your way of justifying your sin in your mind.
Except that no-one is calling you bigots for believing what the Bible tells you, dimwit. They're pissed that you refused to pass a law that would criminalize DISCRIMINATION.
Wow looks like the Sodom and Gamorra aficianados lost this one. Score 1 for decent family people.
A) Learn to spell, dumbass. B) Yes, it takes a special type of "decent people" to condone discrimination of GLBT people by refusing an anti-discrimination law.
Why can't people see this for what it is.....they want "special rights". [...] IF the hemosexual community feels they are not doing anything wrong, why dont they step forward instead of trying to change the laws to protect them because they are afraid? I am afraid of the dark so does that mean I can make a law saying everywhere I go better be well lit?
No-one's asking for "special rights", you retard. They want the same anti-discrimination protection as anyone else, but you deny them that. And also, asking that they not be discriminated against is unreasonable?
Praise God! The ordinance failed. No one is a man trapped inside a womans body. You are one or the other the way God created you. I read that the writer of this column at WNDU referred to this ladies quote as a man by saying "himself." Please WNDU do not fall into this plague of letting people believe they are something they really aren't.
Right, I'm sure you know people far better than they know themselves.
Where did the morals go? Just because your "gay" everyone else should deal with your problem? ITS WRONG, always has been, always will be - no matter how many laws are passed. Get some help, or keep it to yourself.
Anything I can say here other than, "shut the fuck up, you stupid fuck"?
That's it, I'm officially disgruntled. People like these are why I'm constantly wondering how come this species hasn't destroyed itself yet.
(via Friendly Atheist)
Technorati tags: goshen, indiana · anti-discrimination laws · GLBT · equality · bigotry · religion · stupidity