Saikou wrote:
To be honest, I don't really mind gay people, but far too many times have their rights overlapped with religious rights:
A Christian couple that owns a family farm in New York is pushing back after the state fined them $13,000 for refusing to host a same-sex wedding on their property.
According to The Daily Signal, Cynthia and Robert Gifford — the owners of Liberty Ridge Farm in Albany — filed an appeal Thursday with the appellate division of the New York Supreme Court. The Giffords claim the court did not keep in mind their rights under the Constitution and their religious beliefs in making its decision to fine them.
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/christian-family-farm-gay/2015/06/25/id/652303/
The owners of an Oregon bakery learned Friday that there is a severe price to pay for following their Christian faith.
A judge for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) recommended a lesbian couple should receive $135,000 in damages for their emotional suffering after Sweet Cakes by Melissa refused to make them a wedding cake.
As a result – Aaron and Melissa Klein could lose everything they own — including their home.
http://nypost.com/2015/04/26/christian-bakers-face-135k-fine-for-refusing-to-make-cake-for-gay-wedding/
Two Christian ministers who own an Idaho wedding chapel were told they had to either perform same-sex weddings or face jail time and up to a $1,000 fine, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/20/city-threatens-to-arrest-ministers-who-refuse-to-perform-same-sex-weddings.html
A family-owned Indiana pizza shop that was forced to close its doors after the owners said they would not cater a gay wedding because of their religious beliefs, is now raking in thousands of dollars from supporters.
The owners of Memories Pizza in Walkteron, Ind., became one of the first companies to say they could use the newly passed "religious freedom" law to refuse service to same-sex couples.
Crystal O'Connor, the co-owner of Memories Pizza, told WBND-TV she would serve a gay or non-Christian couple at the restaurant, but would not cater a same-sex couples wedding.
The comments resulted in a flood of threats against the business on Yelp and Twitter.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/04/01/indiana-family-pizzeria-wont-cater-gay-weddings/70813430/
The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html
I agree with Governor Abbott's response to the Supreme Court's ruling:
“The Supreme Court has abandoned its role as an impartial judicial arbiter and has become an unelected nine-member legislature. Five Justices on the Supreme Court have imposed on the entire country their personal views on an issue that the Constitution and the Court’s previous decisions reserve to the people of the States.
“Despite the Supreme Court’s rulings, Texans’ fundamental right to religious liberty remains protected. No Texan is required by the Supreme Court’s decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage.
“The Texas Constitution guarantees that ‘[n]o human authority ought, in any case whatsoever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion.’ The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion; and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, combined with the newly enacted Pastor Protection Act, provide robust legal protections to Texans whose faith commands them to adhere to the traditional understanding of marriage.
“As I have done in the past, I will continue to defend the religious liberties of all Texans—including those whose conscience dictates that marriage is only the union of one man and one woman. Later today, I will be issuing a directive to state agencies instructing them to prioritize the protection of Texans’ religious liberties.â€
http://gov.texas.gov/news/press-release/21131?utm_medium=social&utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=20150626_txgov-p-scotus_samesexmarriage_06262015_twitter&utm_content=txgov
...Besides, it's all just a distraction so that the TPP can pass.
1| It's their personal property and, as a result, they should be allowed to do anything the like with it, even if they are bigots.
2| This is a refusal of service in the service industry due to discrimination. I'm not sure if you have any experience or knowledge of the service industry, but this is unacceptable and the business is indeed in the wrong.
However, $135,000 is a completely batshit insane amount and 'emotional suffering' has always come off to me as a idiotic excuse that's abused over and over in court to extort the defendant of more money. The lesbians are crass bitches looking for a bigger buck.
3| I am not familiar with religious establishments or what their services are filed under. If it's the service industry, then they may have to comply. If it's purely by religious binding, then no. Their beliefs take priority over homos.
4| See my second point. Your religious beliefs and prejudice mean nothing in the service industry. If you hold them strongly, then you don't belong in the biz. Shape up or ship out.
5| This is just dumb.
6|TL;DR
Religion is stupid anyways. I'd rather we stopped believing in the magic man.
Believe in whatever you like, but if you are trying to tell me that God is anything other than basically the adult version of Santa Claus, you are provably wrong, and while I support your freedom to believe in these fairy tales, I still only do so begrudgingly.
