The State of Arizona has a new bill that the Governor (Jan Brewer) may or may not sign. If she signs it, it will become law that businesses can basically refuse service based on sexual orientation. If she vetos it, it won’t be law. But if she does nothing, it will become law anyway. Decisions, decisions.
Governor Jan Brewer
When Igwe and I first talked about this, my immediate answer was to veto the bill. But then, yesterday, I began to think about it again. Last week, I was helping a coworker who is a lesbian look for a photographer for her wedding, and one of the photographers I called said he won’t do it because he does not cover gay weddings. I didn’t think too much of it because I figured it was normal for a vendor to refuse service based on sexual discrimination, and I especially felt this way because said coworker told me that in their search for a wedding location, some of the locations have said that they don’t do gay weddings.
So back to the thought about the bill … I am now torn. At first, I thought there should be no kind of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Then yesterday, I thought about it again, and I wondered, should businesses be treated as people and given rights as people to decide whether or not they want to do something? I think businesses should have some kind of rights, but the problem is that the scope of the word, ‘business’ is so wide and vague. Verastic is a business, and so is Macy’s, but they cannot be compared.
What I thought about:
1. If the bill becomes law, doesn’t that make discrimination based sexual orientation law? And shouldn’t all kinds of discrimination be illegal anyway?
2. But if she vetos the bill, doesn’t that impede on the religious rights and freedom of people (business owners)?
3. If homosexuality is against your religion, should you not have a right to not put yourself in a situation that is in direct conflict with your beliefs?
4. Can there be a grey area in this bill where businesses/organizations that are based on religion can use their discretion to do business? I mean business like religious institutions (like church, mosque, temples, etc). For example, my lesbian coworker told me that some pastors will not join them in holy matrimony.
5. If refusing service to people based on their sexual orientation is okay, then wouldn’t that make racial and gender discrimination okay, too? Will we go back to ‘White Only’ businesses? And will women’s pay go back to being smaller because they’re women (although I know that this still happens in some places, unfortunately)?
6. But what does sexual orientation even have to do with service? Should you even care the sexual orientation of your customers/clients?
7. In my opinion, as a true Christian and child of God, you should not discriminate against anyone anyway. If God has a problem with what anyone is doing, He can take care of it Himself. He doesn’t need our help. What kind of help can a mere mortal give to The One who made it all?
Ultimately, regardless of what happens to this bill, I will not be visiting Arizona anytime soon. Not because of this sexual orientation thing, but because – thanks to Gov. Jan Brewer – you can be arrested in Arizona for looking and walking like an illegal immigrant (whatever the heck that might mean) and asked to produce papers to prove otherwise. So no, I will not be going to Arizona.
That said, if I were Gov. Jan Brewer, I would veto this bill. What do you think about this bill?
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“If God has a problem with what anyone is doing, He can take care of it Himself. He doesn’t need our help. What kind of help can a mere mortal give to The One who made it all?”
This has been my argument. I dont know why people think they can fight for God in this gay issue like that would somehow make Him over look their other sins. Like you said a true christain should love and tolerate and most importantly pray for “sinners”.
On the other hand i wont mind this law being passed so that all these homophobes in Africa (Uganda and Nigeria) who say that homosexuality is not African will see that it is not also Western. It is Human.
I once wrote about what I think about Gay. I still believe I have to update it, but I would not change my views. Here is a brief:
I do not have anything against gays. Or serial killers, by the way.
Sometimes, you meet people who would honestly tell you that they do not have a choice or power to change this or that part of them. Afterall, Attraction is not a choice.
However, Gayism (The act itself) is ungodly. So is adultery, though many do that. The bottom line is, we are not designed to go down that road. Do you have sex with anyone, just because you feel attracted to them? Even the opposite sex?
It takes discipline, but you could actually drop some things if you are ready to work at it.
How can one even discriminate based on sexual orientation though? Besides obvious situations like that of the lesbian couple planning their wedding- are businesses going to have surveys at the door for you to fill out before they let you in or something? And what does someone being gay have to do with serving them a sandwich or selling them an outfit? Legislature like this just gives people carte blanche to act a fool.
If you ask me, people are just hateful hypocrites.
I am a christian and I believe the biblical teaching about homosexuality. It is not Gods plan or intention for mankind . However this bill is categorically wrong. I am a medical doctor and according to this bill I can refuse medical care to a homosexual because of “religious freedom” What kind of religion is that .Are we not supposed to love not only our brothers but our enemies, aren’t we supposed to be our brothers keeper. Even Jesus himself spent time with sinners on earth. Is this how to show Gods love? How will people be convince or compelled to Christianity if such hateful bills are passed. If by your subjective analysis you refuse service to a person you perceive as gay you can extend it to immigrants who look and talk differently, women, children etc. The gay propaganda machine is something that irritates me now in America. The liberal main stream media is trying to push acceptance of homosexuality down our throats and I will not change my biblical view however this is one bill that is not right. What is religious freedom anyway? To me, religious freedom is the ability to practice your faith without interference from anyone. How does that extend to service? I think pigs are flying because I hope this is one of the few times I will ever agree with the liberal propaganda machine. Another thing that annoys me about this bill is that it gives ammunition to supposed gay activists who compare the black civil rights movement to the liberal gay propaganda machine. They will say “see now we are discriminated from certain services in Arizona” . While the people in Arizona have real issues these politicians who lack common sense come up with the most asinine of bills.
This is always one tricky issue.
Like some people said here.. I also have no issues with gay people.
But i don’t “believe” or “support” being gay…. firstly because of my faith and then my morals.
to each its own really…. the bible clearly states “DO NOT JUDGE.”
As a business owner, I should reserve the rights to provide MY SERVICES to whomever I deem fit.
If the law is protecting the rights of gay people to ensure “equality,” I believe that my rights should also be protected as a business owner.
Being a part of a homosexual wedding by providing my services is just against my beliefs.
There are so many other businesses out that will be willing.
And its almost unfair to compare homosexuality (an act;nurture) to skin color (genetics;nature)…..but then again, some will argue the “nurture-rity” of being gay.
Its almost impossible to talk about being against homosexuality (the act itself) without being biased…. The Dilemna
May God help us and give us all wisdom… Amen 🙂
Amen!
I will kip my mouth shut on dis 1 cos God said thou shall not judge.