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As questions on some rights of the gay community come before the Supreme Court, it is apt to consider this.
Conservatives seem to ever be concerned with gay people. Obsessed even.
They are constantly afraid some gay people might be around them. Afraid they might have a good job. Afraid they might find love. Afraid they might have a voice in society, and be treated like normal folk.
It seems to all scare them.
So they try and legislate to, as with some many things in the scary modern world, to ostracize them.
Many ANTI-GAY groups (and never forget that that is what they are) are lamenting the state of this country. They live in a sad place. A place where it's inconvenient to be a bigot. It's a place where it's actually kind of cool, and normal, to be tolerant and accepting of other people. It's a place where they have the antiquated ideas. And they think that is wholly unfair.
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“These Republicans who are jumping ship are doing so because we have no way of messaging,” said Ashley Pratte, 23, the executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research and Cornerstone Action, a New Hampshire group that focuses on social issues. “Do you want to tell your friends when you’re out with them on a Friday night that they can’t get married? No, you don’t want to have that discussion, but you want to have a healthy discussion.”
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In the piece they use a lot of words to try and hide their only real argument against gays and gay marriage. That they and it are yucky. And, you know, the quote seems to suggest that these conservatives have a lot of gay friends they hang out with (and that a lot of gay people are out in the open and unafraid to be themselves -- which doesn't thrill conservatives). So when they are out with them, shoot, they feel awkward telling these gay friends that they are wicked sinners, destined for hell, that are destroying the fabric of society. Gosh, I really feel for these conservatives.
And if you do want to be depressed about this:
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Opponents of same-sex marriage say they realize they may lose the current fight, but they optimistically take the long view, pointing to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. At the time, they say, opponents of abortion were told their cause was lost, but the fight continues 40 years later.
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They've fought for 40 years to limit women's rights. And they have drug this out and limited abortion access across the country. They are hoping and praying to do the same on gay rights.
And let's see one place they are making their dream of religious bigotry against the gay community come true. KENTUCKY.
Religious freedom. Sounds nice enough. You have your beliefs, I have mine. Or, as the Kentucky legislature sees it, you have your beliefs, and that overrides state law. That's their definition of Religious Freedom. (It's similar to their definition of Academic Freedom. -- Conservatives have really begun abusing the word Freedom quite heartily these days. But I'll get more into that as we approach Easter.)
I wish I could lay this all on the GOP. But the Kentucky Democratic Party has made that impossible. A Democratic sponsored the bill in the state house. The House is controlled by Democrats, who largely supported and voted for the bill (7 voted against. Thanks for trying.). It is depressing. I don't know why they've done this. If it's fear of losing power, or if most of them are just that socially conservative (backwards).
But, you might get excited to hear that this week the governor vetoed this law (after it passed the Republican state senate). But the house Democrats tonight overrode that veto. They did it behind closed doors, just Democrats alone, personally override it. And the Republicans in the state senate said they would move fast once the house voted.
We will see if it goes to court. As it is, it will quickly move to law now allows now makes it legal to discriminate against gay, lesbian, and transgendered people in Kentucky...as along as you have a religious reason. (wink)
Doesn't Kentucky feel freer already?
The argument is that religious freedom is in peril. You know, doctors have to treat patients, even if they don't like the treatment being sent. Businesses have to pay for health care support they don't like for workers. And landlords have to let people rent from them, even when they're of the wrong race, religion, or sexual orientation or presentation. How tyrannical is all of that?
Religion is making a useful justification for using the law to deny rights. And it's called Freedom. Frank Luntz must have a tear of pride trailing down from his eye tonight.
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