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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTim Cook: Pro-discrimination ‘religious freedom’ laws are dangerous
Theres something very dangerous happening in states across the country.
A wave of legislation, introduced in more than two dozen states, would allow people to discriminate against their neighbors. Some, such as the bill enacted in Indiana last week that drew a national outcry and one passed in Arkansas, say individuals can cite their personal religious beliefs to refuse service to a customer or resist a state nondiscrimination law.
Others are more transparent in their effort to discriminate. Legislation being considered in Texas would strip the salaries and pensions of clerks who issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples even if the Supreme Court strikes down Texas marriage ban later this year. In total, there are nearly 100 bills designed to enshrine discrimination in state law.
These bills rationalize injustice by pretending to defend something many of us hold dear. They go against the very principles our nation was founded on, and they have the potential to undo decades of progress toward greater equality.
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Men and women have fought and died fighting to protect our countrys founding principles of freedom and equality. We owe it to them, to each other and to our future to continue to fight with our words and our actions to make sure we protect those ideals. The days of segregation and discrimination marked by Whites Only signs on shop doors, water fountains and restrooms must remain deep in our past. We must never return to any semblance of that time. America must be a land of opportunity for everyone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pro-discrimination-religious-freedom-laws-are-dangerous-to-america/2015/03/29/bdb4ce9e-d66d-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html
marym625
(17,997 posts)But it makes me want to wear a button saying "I am part of the LGBT Community" I don't want to "pass" when some of my brothers and sisters wouldn't be able to, or because of their upcoming wedding, or whatever, it is known that they're not straight or cisgender. Besides I am proud to be a bisexual.
Baitball Blogger
(46,756 posts)indivisibleman
(482 posts)Justice Ginsburg warned about. If they had just ruled that Hobby Lobby's desires to discriminate ended at the church doors none of this would be taking place. It is time to drive this stupid "religious freedom" nonsense back into the hole it crawled out of.
Chipper Chat
(9,686 posts)in 2016. Or else we will see another ScaliaThomasAlito on the SCOTUS and more laws like this.
world wide wally
(21,754 posts)They could go either way as I see it. Yes, they have been somewhat friendly to gays, but they have also ruled on the side of allowing discriminatory practices quite often too. ie
stripping the Voting Rights Act.
Hold your breath, it could go either way and I don't think the SC has any great love for the America we grew up in.