If you’re gay, non-Christian, non-Caucasian, or could just be assumed to hold any of those or other minority statuses, you probably want to stay far away from Indiana. On March 23, and with a 63-31 vote, the Hoosier State’s legislature passed a controversial bill that now legalizes discrimination.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows businesses to refuse service to anyone due to beliefs and differences in faith, and which that business itself gets to determine. It allows individuals to cite religious beliefs as defense in lawsuits, as well. And when it comes to employment, the Act “prohibits an applicant, employee, or former employee from pursuing certain causes of action against a private employer.” The Act also overrules any existing anti-discrimination laws that are already present in Indiana cities.
It had little public support, however, and major employers in Indiana publicly opposed the bill, as well, as did the state’s Chamber of Commerce. Smaller private companies along with citizens of strict faiths were the only proponents.
The soon-to-be-law bill has a homophobic foundation, Huffington Post recently reported, and with original intentions of allowing businesses to refuse to serve and hire members of the gay and lesbian community based on religious opposition. The discrimination now allowed by the Act could extend far beyond the LGBT community, however, opponents say.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, the loosely-worded law will allow one’s religious beliefs to interfere with others’ rights. For example, a religious pharmacist could legally refuse to fill a prescription for birth control medication. A police officer could refuse to patrol near a church that’s not of his religion. A pro-life doctor could withhold information from a woman whose life would be threatened by full-term pregnancy, and to prevent her from seeking an abortion. The beliefs of particular Christian sects would also legalize their discrimination against women and divorcees, and even against minorities (remember – the KKK identifies itself as a Christian organization).
Indiana’s bizarre law could set precedent for other states to follow. At least 85 anti-LGBT bills were recently filed in 26 state legislatures, the Human Rights Campaign says.
Last week Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he would sign the bill into law shortly after its passage.
H/T: WTHR-13 | Image: Public Domain via Wikipedia
Moronic. Watch out for the law of unintended consequences.
Just like Oklahoma’s decision to allow only clergy to issue marriage licenses, which essentially makes same-sex marriage legal when performed by LGBT-friendly ministers, rabbis, shamans, etc.
I hereby apologize on behalf of the people of Indiana. We have quite a few cavemen that live here. One of them happens to be governor. Please feel free to have your conventions elsewhere, and go ahead and boycott us until we come to our senses.
I sure hope the NCAA reacts appropriately.
No more basketball playoffs for Indiana.
I agree; where would the players be able to stay or have a meal, since I’m sure that somehow, discrimination of minority races is a foregone conclusion.
me too
There’s a lunatic here in California who is gathering signatures for an initiative to appear on the ballet which would not only legalize the murder of LGBTQ individuals, but essentially mandate it! Unfortunately, California election law requires that any initiative with enough signatures be voted on by the general populace.
I know and using the Christian faith as his backing for it. What makes radical people like this any worse than radical ISIS terrorists. Nothing.
send em to isis or ebola wtf they r lunatic
Let the stranglehold on your state’s economy begin..I’m sorry that many good, decent people and their businesses will suffer because the inmates are running the asylum.
Hey, some of them voted for these wackos, and others just sat out the election. They are ALL to blame!
Some of us (i.e me) didn’t vote for the crazies and I did vote. :-/
I hear ya. Here in AZ, they ALMOST passed a bill similar to that one. Even our GOP governor knew better than to sign it.
Sadly, Indiana’s governor is “dug in” and thinks he is either going to be a senator or president. And, if Hoosiers don’t get their butts out of their chairs and vote him out as well as never allow him to represent us as senator, he could do a lot of damage to this country. Pence sees nothing wrong with this law — he is widely known as “Dense Pence.”
That might get me to move back to Indiana. A move for Religious Rights .
No one is restricting your faith in this country. This myth people like you spread is bull. A business that serves the public should serve the public regardless. A cake is a cake.
A cake is one thing but holding the wedding or party is another. Business has the right to refuse service to people for many reason, no shoes is one.
No one asked them to preside over the wedding or to cater the reception. They asked for a cake from a bakery. Bake the cake and move on.
That was just one part was the cake the other jobs are also in this. They do demand that people that don’t want to to hold the wedding or the reception. If they don’t they are threaten with a lawsuit.
A cake is a cake. They didn’t have to put a “couple” on top of the cake. The couple could have done that themselves. And they won their lawsuit.
Then you need to pay more attention to the news. Yes they are demanding people to preside over the wedding and other to cater the reception. A cake is just one very small part of this. Also its not the baking of the cake but the decorations on the baked cake.
You need to stop listening to Fox. No one asked them to preside over a wedding or to cater it. They wanted a cake made, period.
You need to start listening to some one else. Of course no one asked the bakery to preside over a wedding or to cater it. That would be the other business that are being harassed for not wanting to preside over and another one to cater it also the business that won’t hold the reception.
Maybe you should watch Fox if you really thought that there were people that wanted a “bakery” to preside or cater a wedding of any kind.
I don’t listen or read one news source. You best believe that Faux nor any conservative “news” sites, are on my list. Nothing but racists visit those sites to spout vile, racist comments.
Shows what little you know about them. Conservative “news” is where the people that are not racist go. Except those that are racist that go there to spew their vile and racists comments about conservative news.
LOL! In your dreams, racist.
HAHAHA That is Rich a racist calling some one a racist. What a joke of a troll. Go troll some where else.
They wanted not just a cake but one just for a gay wedding.
HAHAHA That is rich. A racist calling a person a racist.
A cake is not just a cake when its special ordered. So should a bakery make any kind of cake or should there be limits on what they can make. So try again.
HAHAHA That is rich. A racist calling a person a racist.
A cake is not just a cake when its special ordered. So should a bakery make any kind of cake or should there be limits on what they can make. So try again.
You are funnier than me, racist.
When you said that you must of been looking in a mirror.
lol, just like you, racist.
You admit that when you call me a racist you are actully looking in the mirror. Good to know. I don’t believe race matters its what is inside that matters not the outside.
Bwahahahahahaha! Conservative news is exactly where racists go. Prove to me that white supremacists aren’t racist and conservative. They vote for idiot cons every chance they get.
So where are you living right now that you’re can’t find any Christian churches (every place I’ve lived, there’s 20X as many churches as there are McDonalds), where you’re not allowed to pray or wear a cross in public? No place in the USA that I’m aware of.
It’s no such thing.
Where “religious rights” = being able to discriminate openly?
What about the “religious right” to welcome all? Like, for example, Jesus did.
But, by all means .. move from wherever you are to Redneckistan. The thinking people won’t miss you.
You should get that huckabitis checked.
If you live in Indiana, full of small towns and small cities with small thinking, this law is really not about cakes — it is about being able to legally not serve people that just might “move in” that are different and shops now have the legal muscle to refuse service. This is a way to exclude anyone where they can find a religious reason (usually citing the King James version of the Bible) why the business does not have to serve them. In these places, there are usually just “one” of something. If a store won’t serve them, customers may have to drive quite a ways to get a product or service. Would you want to live in a place like this? Of course not — you would move, and that is exactly what they want. This is about “keeping” small towns white, Christian, gay-free, and like-minded. Wake up, people. It isn’t about cakes — it is about using legal discrimination to drive people deemed unacceptable out.
I couldn’t have said it better.
Suburbia is just as insular as any small town. In some ways suburbs are even worse than small towns because they’re all so cookie cutter they have to fight to have any identity at all.
that governor needs shipped off to a remote island. i hope his family members turn out transgender and come out as gay and have black kids. what a freak.
You went from complaining about those that will not call a Sin good to showing signs of being a racist. Your “and have black kids” like that would be a bad thing? I can understand the transgender and gay kids would be bad but the other? What a freak.
im not racist at all half my family is black, my sister is gay and have a transgender, but since he is so racist i think it would really be a lesson to him so he understands we love everyone and never discriminate against any other human no matter what they are. IT’S WRONG.
you know that sounded like the old saying “I’m not racist some of my friends are black”. that does not prove or disprove it.
WOULD HE STILL LOVE HIS KIDS IF THEY HAD BLACK GAY AND TRANSGENDER KIDS FOR HIS GRAND KIDS OR WOULD HE DISOWN THEM AND DISCRIMINATE. WHAT ARE YOU A HATER TOO?
Nice, lets call anyone that does not agree with you a “hater”, not just say but YELL IT. Who knows how he would treat his grand kids, not you or me. Are you a hater? Why would it matter if his kids are black? Is that some thing that matters to? Are you saying it would be bad if you had a black kid? The way you post you sound like a hater.
and u freaks that call yourself christians. you are nothing. live and let live. who died n made your rules you frak fake christians. dont use my christanity to give my faith a bad name. your not chfistian at all. nothing chritian about you. how dare u say you are christian. you liars.
Real Christians follow the word of God the Bible and does not change to be PC. A real Christian is more concerned about Spiritual then earthly or of the Flesh. They don’t start calling a sin as good just because others think that it is now ok when its never ok.
I have lived in Indiana for 7 years. I am an atheist. Am I no longer welcome?
NO. They didn’t welcome you before. It’s just that now they can show their intolerance in public.
Especially not in Ft.Wayne.
When I lived there, the Indianapolis Times-Star printed the Bible Verse of the Day on the *front page.* That says it all for me (and not in a good way) … and I’m not an atheist.
No you’re not! Get out, heathen!
In fact this bill which is going to be signed by Gov. Pence will enshrine in law the discrimination of all minorities, whether they’re now protected or not. It of course will demand hearing by SCROTUS very quickly, no doubt because of its loosely worded nature when written.
This bill is going to lead to unintended consequences, consequences which when this bill was written were not clearly spelled out. It is going to enshrine discrimination of the highest order, discrimination which will be based on mere whims and ideas not found in reality. I will rejoice when this bill/law is overturned, it will then be clear that discrimination is illegal in this nation and will not be tolerated against anyone.
Sounds like Naziism has found a new home - Indiana…..better hold onto your hats, something is about to hit the fan……
The general public is concerned! This is going to get very ugly. There are lists being formed of businesses that will serve all and those that are owned by known fanatics; store signs are already going up that the business will serve everyone; people are finding out from police depts. where they can picket a store. Indiana will be in the news quite a bit in the next several months over this. Pence signs it into law today, in a “private ceremony.” How about that?
Wow!! The opposite of progress. What an embarassment.
It’s time to boycott the Indianapolis 500
And watch how quickly this is thrown out by the Federal Courts.
Is there any enterprising computer person out there who would be able to start a website that would list all businesses which discriminate? I don’t travel to Indiana often, but I would like to avoid these businesses. Also, if I had a business there, I would put up a sign saying I will serve all people who behave with civility, no matter their religion, politics, sexual orientation, skin color, or choice of aftershaves (but, please tone it down) :>). I will not weep for any business that goes under, because it was boycotted by caring people. I guess they will have to hope there are enough “Christians” who think like they do to keep them afloat.
Its part of the Bible belt, there won’t be any businesses go under here, unfortunately.
My thoughts are: if a business plans to discriminate against groups of people, they should be mandated to post a large sign indicating by all entrances that indicate which they will not willingly serve. The prospective shoppers should have a clear choice to determine if they want to shop in that business.
I totally agree. If you aren’t going to serve me, I better know before I walk in the door.
Alabama/Mississippi north. You’re doing it wrong Indiana. You’re doing it wrong!
Its always been Alabama /Mississippi of the north. in the 20’s , the KKK was headquartered in Indiana . They ran the state with the republican party up to the late 60;s early 70;s. The Klan doesn’t any more (openly), but the Klans ideas runs Marion county where Indianapolis is located.
I posted earlier about being shocked to find the KKK openly listed in the Yellow Pages. It was 1990.
I lived in Lawrence Township at the time.
So if I am gay and I open a business in Indiana, can I discriminate against homophobic peoples and religious fanatics? If I am reading this right I am guessing that I can…
No no no. You have to be religious in order to be able to discriminate. If you deny them services they will cry and scream that they are being persecuted. Remember folks, you have be to religious if you want to be a government sanctioned bigot.
No, no, no. You have to be *Christian*. Watch what happens when it’s another religion being used to discriminate.
It will be fun to see if they do!
Homosexuals already discriminate by filing frivolous lawsuits against Christian bakers and wedding officiants.. that’s part of why this law was passed.
Oddly enough, they don’t pull that nonsense on Muslim bakers. Go figure.
you are a sick sick person
Every Muslim store owner I’ve known (in San Jose there were a LOT of them) are in business to DO business, and make money. As far as they’re concerned, everybody’s money spends the same. I’ve never heard of Muslims in the USA discriminating against anybody. That’s a Christian thing.
Homosexuals know to keep their sin a secret when dealing with muslims for fear of getting their throat split.
As you consider yourself Christian (clearly), I suggest you look into that business about not bearing false witness.
The Muslim bakery around the corner from where I used to live made the best cinnamon rolls in town. And do you know what they said to this non-Muslim when she came in to buy some? “How are you today, ma’am? The weather has been particularly good lately. Here are your cinnamon rolls, and your change. Thank you, and have a great day.”
Sam, you’re missing quite a few details, apparently. A customer ordered the cake, paid for it, and the bakery never completed the order - without telling the customer. If they had refused from the get-go, I wouldn’t complain; that they did this in such a way indicates that the bakery was actually trying to interfere with and/or damage the wedding. That’s illegal.
Yup!
Bigot troll basing his sentiments on nothing more than irrational hatred and a desire to be a victim. Ignore this turd, guys.
Ah but Christians like Bill Jacks have no problem doing exactly the same thing. You should educate yourself a little before commenting so you don’t appear ridiculous.
Yep.
I hope so!
Well, here we go. The false Christians have taken hold. Won’t be visiting the state of Indiana.
Maye the Indianapolis 500 will choose to move the race in the very near future. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants.
You would be free in Indiana to discriminate too, if you are gay, as many already do anyway, so go ahead, reject homophobic bigots, haters, politically incorrect, racists, rednecks, hillbillies, hayseeds, trailer trash, honkies, hicks and everyone else you already hate.This law will be repealed, but in the mean time, have fun bankrupting people .
another insane ignorant law passed by the GOP morons who do not have the BEST interest of their state at heart….this “LAW” has minority support BUT the GOPukes are so homophobic and FEARFUL chirisitans they MUST over react as the yare TOO ignorant to think about how this will destroy any sembalnce of law and civil discourse….EVERY minority or perceived minority is at risk in INDIANA…making this a theocracy based on a “FAITH” view not a legalview..CLEARLY unconstituitional as ONLY churchs and actual church officals are exempt in the federla sense…morewasted mone y more hate and sicrimination….
This law will fall apart as soon as a non Christian uses it to screw over a Christian. Maybe a Pagan who refuse serve Baptists due to sincerely held belief. Or a Muslim who refuses to do business with a Catholic.
HAhahaha… Right?
And the minute someone refuses service to a Christian, they’ll throw a fit and say “well we didn’t mean refusing service to Christians.”
Of course! “I only meant that we should be able to refuse to serve n*****s and f*****s, not God-fearing white people! Your refusal to serve me is discrimination!”
This would be ridiculous of it wasn’t so horrifying.
Gen Con was right to decide to move their operation- AND their money!- to another, more gay-hospitable state.
Same should go for ALL groups who would otherwise have their conventions and meetings in Indiana. Financial deficits will ALWAYS trump “religious rights”.. because we all know they love money more than their God.
The last I heard they have not decided to cancel — as far as I know, it is a threat to move it elsewhere, and now I hope they go through with the threat — if they don’t, the crazies have won and the threat is meaningless.
The problem is that contracts have already been written for GenCon, and also for an annual SCA event. There are huge calls to GTFO of Indiana by the members of both groups.
Won’t that be fun when you need a police officer and he won’t come because it’s not his church or the person being assaulted is the wrong color. Just wait until the bosses try making up work schedules around everyone’s prejudices and find they don’t have enough staff to work a particular shift. Has anyone actually thought about the chaos that will ensue?
The general public understands — it is only the General Assembly and the Governor that passed it and signed it don’t care — they want the votes of the far right for the next election.
That is just disgusting. I’m so serious about this and in the classic GOP way there is a certain cockiness I the their attitude about it.
Wait… this isn’t the Onion?
Something as righteous as religious freedom now goes against the constitution.
Barring court proceedings and specific interpretations of law, this is also true in every other state. It’s called the 1st amendment.
1st amendment is a protection of individual rights, it is not a right to deny others their rights
This makes me want to open a business there just so I can post a No Christians Served sign.
No Shirt
No Shoes
No Secular Views
No Service
I want to see some non-Christians start posting signs on THEIR business that says they don’t serve Christians. Wonder how well THAT will go over??
My husband and I just sold our house 2 weeks ago in a western state, with the intention of going to Terre Haute for our retirement. That will no longer happen. We have decided on Florida. I cannot live in a state that is so homophobic and woman hating. The remedy for this kind of idiocy is VOTE DEMOCRAT!!!!
Florida passed a nearly identical act in 1998.
But then you’ll have Rick Scott to deal with… better not use the words “Climate Change”!
So Indiana just PASSED LEGAL SHARIA LAW??
No, don’t be silly. Sharia law is something brown people have. It’s different when it’s a *Christian* theocracy … /sarc
then what is the new law, which allows business refusal and service refusal and hiring/firing on the basis of personal beliefs, about?
Gov said last week that he would sign it right after it passed
KKK has always declared itself to be a Christian organization
Self-declaration does not necessarily mean that they really were, but it was handy to declare so. You are correct. In fact, I think in the 1920s or 30s (maybe), we had a governor that was a member.
In what way were the rights of religious folks ever challenged?
Well, their right to be bigots apparently was …
I wonder how many pockets were lined to pass this immoral and discriminatory law? I am Native American, Mexican and Caucasian, not to mention I am also Wiccan so I probably will not be welcomed anywhere! I also have a few gay family members who are very good hearted people and are loved just as much as anyone else in our family and community. These so “Christians” need to take a good look in the mirror and realize THEY are committing a huge sin and such hated themselves. Yes, I have read the bible when I was younger but later realized this was not the path for me. As I recall it says something along the lines that if you judge others then you will be judged as well. Every race, religion and so on have their share of bad apples but we should not be judged or scrutinized bcuz of the few. Bcuz of the negative few I feel ashamed of our state, the people, and our government for making hated legal. Is this what we want our children to learn? That it’s ok to be prejudice? And Some of these very same people wonder why there are so many hate crimes. The racism and prejudice must stop somewhere! We do not live in the past, we live in the now where things change for the better. I pray that this ridiculous law can be fought and thrown out. Blessed be!
Oh, I am guessing a lot of them! As Deep Throat says, “Follow the money.”
Good for Indiana, more states should follow suit.
Plot twist on their stupid law: a Christian walks in to a gas station and gets denied service.
own3d
Better get your guns lock, and loaded because the extreme right wing will be coming to your home next.
This is NOT discrimination. If anything this was brought on by the scumbags who targeted Christian businesses for frivolous lawsuits by trying to force them to bake wedding cakes for homosexual weddings and other such things. There have been several bakers who had to fight to keep their business (at great cost) and other businesses who had to close down because some Christophobic homosexual wanted to be a jerk.
If you’re a homosexual artist, would you like a court order forcing you to make a 50 foot billboard with some choice words from the Old Testament? Probably not. Unfortunately, since some folks from the homosexual community can’t live and let live, a law like this became necessary.
This law doesn’t sanction murder, it just allows business owners to not be forced into having to do business with people whose beliefs are in direct conflict with their own religious beliefs.
If a business performs weddings, and their religion forbids them to participate in or sanction the sins of other people, they have a right to refuse, and you have a right to take your business elsewhere.
I have noticed the homosexuals aren’t trying to force Muslim bakers to make wedding cakes for them…
I’ve pointed this out on your other completely-false comments on this thread, but let me do it again just for fun:
You are telling a false story. The case in question isn’t a lawsuit because a bakery refused to do the wedding cake. It’s a lawsuit because the bakery never told the customers of their refusal - they let the customers assume that they would, later spoiling the event because those customers were never notified.
Nobody’s interested in your BS. The examples you use are completely bogus, and not-at-all similar. Get back to Faux News, Hannity’s microscopic manhood needs tending to.
Unfortunately, instead of taking their business elsewhere, many homosexuals were trying to force Christian businesses to bake their wedding cakes. If you think that’s okay, maybe a few hundred muslims should come to your business demanding that you print what the Koran commands they should do to homosexuals… and then sue you into oblivion when you refuse. Oh, wait, liberals are to scared to speak against Islam…
It’s only a matter of time before the business that support discrimination will be put out of business by word of mouth. This has already happened in several states. Good riddence.
bullshit
They are in the business of selling cakes. It makes no difference what their religion is. They sell cakes. Can a clothing store refuse to sell a dress because they consider it too revealing if they are Christian. There is no end to the discrimination. What if an atheist kicked a few Christians out of their business? Would that be ok? The argument you used could be used the same way. Oh I forgot, this is only for Christians or only applies to them in your mind. All those other religions can pound sand. And no liberal is afraid of talking about Islam. We just aren’t crazed dogs willing to sacrifice anyone that practices that faith. If Christians had it there way we would be living in a society much like Iran or ISIS control. Gays would be stoned to death. We are a secular country and I much prefer that to the hateful religions that could be running things. There are many bad people in all faiths including Islam. Christianity is by far not innocent. Look at the hatefulness of the Christian faith displayed by most in the public eye. Currently you have a legislator trying to get a measure put on the ballot in California legalizing shooting “sodomites” in the head. This is Christianity at it’s finest. No better than radical islam.
Actually Nick if they thought the dress was too revealing according to their Religious beliefs then more likely they would not any to sell. They would have ones they believe would be proper to wear. So could a customer come into that dress shop and demand that they carry clothing they don’t have? Or any other clothing that the owner would find equally offensive that they don’t stock? The cake is a cake but instead of a bride and groom they want and will sue it they have a groom and groom or bride and bride on top.
And this new law will provide legal protection for them to do exactly that. What, did you think that the legal protection for religious-based discrimination applied only to Christians?
Actually this law is just for Christians. They are the ones who wanted it and they are the ones who pushed it through the legislatures of every state that has considered or is considering it. Christians are just about the only true racists left in this society. Until they grow up societies will continue to be stifled from advancing properly.
Making a faith-based law that applies to only one religion shouldn’t even pass the smell test for the most devout Christian lawmaker who imagines that religion gets a sacred free pass from all laws it doesn’t like. For that reason, I’m sure that there is nothing in the wording of the law that specifically states that only Christians are given the privilege of claiming legal protection for bigotry. Christians, do, however seem to frequently forget that the United States HAS any other religions, so they just assume that only Christians will gain protections from them.
they are not true Christians. they think they are but they are not. my christian does not judge and would never discriminate and my Christianity loves everyone and no one is better than anyone else. thats what my Christianity is all about
how can they dare call themselves Christians. there is nothing christian about them.
Christians may have sponsored it, but anyone can use it. Aetheist, Jewish, Muslim, etc. Biz owners should start asking customers if they’re Christian, and then site this law as they deny them services. Oh the indignation & moral outrage that will follow! After all, Christians see the resistance to their discrimination of others as discrimination against Christians.
All “religious freedom” acts are for the benefit of Christians only. I will believe otherwise when the SCOTUS rules in favor of a non-Christian principle. Don’t think that’s ever actually happened, but for some reason they expect no-one to notice.
Faulty analogy. Baking someone a wedding cake when you are a bakery who makes wedding cakes is nothing like decorating a cake with anti gay Koran passages.
In order for your analogy to work it would have to be gay people forcing them to decorate a cake tons of things gays hate about straight people. That’s not what is happening. They are just wanting a cake.
When the law.passes and a fay business rejects a Christian customer, you will be the first person crying discrimination. You’re pathetic.
Liberals aren’t scared of speaking against Islam. Conservatives are scared of rational thinking and telling the truth.
Pray that you are not a homosexual, being the brave one that’s willing to speak out against islam, that makes you first in line to be beheaded by them.
Oh, bullshit. If you hang out a shingle and open a public accommodation like a bakery, you CANNOT discriminate against members of the public. Going in and asking to have a cake baked … a cake that is part of one’s business to make … is not “forcing” someone.
Which services should someone be able to deny you, Sam? Maybe I don’t want to serve you in a restaurant because I don’t like your face? Should that be okay? No, of course it shouldn’t.
Well, okay … in Indiana you can, now. You must be so proud, Sam. I’ll arrange to have a hood and sheet delivered to you as well.
If you go in to buy a cake and keep your big mouth shut, who will know that you are a homosexual, then you can have your cake. But that is not what this is about. The homosexuals are trying to force Christians to accept their perverted lifestyle.
Y are homosexuals perverted? N nobody is making anyone accept their lifestyle. If they want a cake that’s what they deserve! It’s sad that this law is going into effect! Setting America so far back with hate instead of forward with tolerance. This is not right. Only god should judge not a state! We’re all humans looking for our American dream, so y does everyone try to destroy others hopes and aspirations! ? It’s sad and plain wrong!!!!
Mr. Maitland, don’t play stupid with me. How does anyone know who the homosexuals are, they don’t have it written on their foreheads. Homosexuals go into Christian businesses and demand that the Christians do something against their religion like making a cake with homosexual inscriptions. Otherwise the Christians would not know who the homosexuals are. No, the Christians are not judging the homosexuals, they are just not wanting to accommodate them in their sin.
Really? A wedding cake is “against their religion?
Just stop with this bullshit.
No, the Christians are not judging the homosexuals,
You’re right. The *real* Christians aren’t judging. You and your “who would Jesus hate” crowd are.
That is very true. All this pride marches. Why have marches forcing people to accept their lifestyles? Were there interracial marches? Or how about different religions marriage marches? What they want us to accept was, is, and always be a sin. We can love a person with out accepting their lifestyle we don’t even have to agree with what think.
Yes, it’s so dreadful that we straight folks never have an opportunity to celebrate our love in public, or have a parade full of straight people …
Oh, wait … that’s only every single goddamned day.
Being gay is not a choice. Being a bigot IS.
Do you even understand any thing? There is a big difference between an “opportunity” to celebrate love and an actual parade. There is also the difference between a parade with straight people and a parade that shows pride in “Being Straight” Being gay is not the choice acting on a fleshy sinful act is a choice. Calling a person a bigot is just an way of whinning that every one does not accept a sinful act as good.
Oh, I understand plenty: you’re a bigot.
HAHA I laugh “you’re a bigot” that is so funny. You understand plenty means not much of anything but to call people names.
I’m sorry; you’ll have to parse this hot mess into English.
Lets see if you can understand this? Your post is funny is a sad pathetic way. Your saying “I understand plenty” means that you don’t understand much more than to call people names. The word bigot is away for people to attack others just because they disagree with them.
The word bigot is away for people to attack others just because they disagree with them.
No, I’m sorry; this is patently incorrect. Your desire to discriminate in the public square is not a matter for mere disagreement.
Tell you what: if you don’t want to be called out for bigotry, stop behaving like a bigot. Problem solved.
Then maybe you should take your own advice and stop being a “bigot”.
Bigot - a person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions.
I don’t discriminate in any square public or otherwise. I do not have to take part of an act that goes against my Faith.
Once again, for the terminally stupid: it is not intolerance to call you out for your intolerance.
I’m sorry you’re so stupid.
Funny ‘terminally stupid’ and blind to the fact as well. It is intolerance not to accept that people may have a different opinion on a lifestyle. It would be intolerance not to accept the people but it is not intolerance to not want to take part in a sinful activity in any way.
In a way it would intolerant not accept people of a different Religion but it is not intolerance not to attend their church.
Please, describe the “gay lifestyle” as you understand it.
You see, the lifestyles of my GLBT friends don’t look any different from mine. They go to work, help the kids with homework, shop for food, walk the dog, etc. So, I’m keen to know what this “gay lifestyle” is in your mind.
I am further keen to know why you consider yourself an arbiter of what is and is not sinful. I find your bigotry sinful, myself … after all, Jesus says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, and you are clearly failing that.
Do you think they will look different? What are they aliens from another planet? Lifestyle is more than work or kids its also about marriage. As in the man that lives the polygamist lifestyle wants to marry more than one wife. Or the Swingers lifestyle are couples that like to swap mates with other couples.
I don’t keen myself as an arbiter I read the Good Book the Bible and says what is Sinful or not. I know we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Those that want to be saved repent their sin and they will be forgiven. How can God forgive a Sin IF the person does not see it as a Sin?
I find your bigotry rather sad. Jesus said to Love and with that Love is to, after we evaluate our reasons, we can help others and by that show how they are risking their mortal soul and tell that God does Love them. Do you call what you are doing as “Love our neighbors”? You who can’t accept that people can find same sex unions as offensive but can be offended by them, that sounds offensive.
So, you can’t delineate what the “gay lifestyle” looks like, yet you disapprove of it. Hmm. Sounds like bigotry to me …
So you can’t read or refuse to read what I type? I ansered that. It doe not look like, it is what it is. I can’t help that bigots just don’t want to accept or understand that.
Nope, sorry. You wrote a whole lot of things about polygamists and swingers, but you did not identify what the “gay lifestyle” is. So, please, do articulate for us what you believe the “gay lifestyle” is and why you disapprove of it.
This is funny thinking its about just baking a cake when its about the decorations that go on the cake. Like wedding cakes that have a bride and groom. These people don’t want that but to two of the same bride and groom with means the bakery has to open two of them. They should just buy two sets of bride and grooms and with out saying anything to the bakery choose which ones to place on the cake later rather forcing the bakery to change just for them. Restaurants do deny service for dress, odor, or other forms of discrimination.
You’re changing the story regarding those wedding cakes. The bakery decided not to inform the customers, leaving them hanging at the last minute.
They are licensed to do business and being so were not supposed to discriminate. I don’t see them hanging signs in their doors saying they won’t serve gay or other minorities. If they did we could effectively boycott them but they want the best of both worlds.. They want to discriminate and not let others know about it. I know I won’t do business with any I know discriminates. I haven’t been in a Hobby Lobby since they filed suit to discriminate against women. All the businesses that won’t serve everybody should have to post it in their windows and on their web sites.. If you have to ask. These fine Christians are just going to lie rather than have you walk out of their business. Old Sam Madina better rethink himself. What they want to do is the same way blacks were treated until the 1960s. He thinks it can’t regress far enough to affect him again?? Better think again. You could be drinking from a separate fountain and pissing in alleys again faster than you think. You think because you’re a Christian other Christians wouldn’t treat you like that?? Check your history fool. It was Christians that fought The Civil Rights Act.
Who needs to check history? It was the Democrats that fought it.
“Emboldened by his success in Montgomery and a rise to national
prominence, in 1957 King joined other civil rights activists to found
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. King was elected
president.”
Baking a cake = printing the equivalent of hate crimes? You are a jackass of epic proportions.
When you open a public business,it means all the public. It must be nice being a state with so much extra money they are willing to fight the Supreme Court over the US Constitution. If you do not want to sell cakes to homosexuals then put your bakery in your church basement where you can legally pick and choose who you sell to. I guess we should turn down blacks and woman since the Bible loves slaves and hates woman
Many? There was one case published. Hardly counts as many. Of course the same should apply to the Bill Jack, the evangelical leader who is suing a bakery for refusing to bake a cake with God hates gays printed on it. Try to avoid throwing stones in a glass house in the future.
The, I think, better analogy would be for a Christian cake bakery that would be forced to decorate one with horrific acts of violence or any other offensive pictures or decorations.
Well the kkk did originate in indiana so it makes sense, that, that would be the reason.
But for real, does this really change anyone’s lives? I feel like the kind of entities that would exploit this law dont get any business from the people it “opresses” (which is an extreme generalization). Why get butthurt over more freedom?
It will change lives. Indiana is loaded with small towns and small cities. They are predominantly white, Christian, and generations have spent their lifetimes there. The problem comes if a family deemed “different” would move into one of these small towns and wanted a service or a product, there will probably be only one store that would sell it — there is little to no competition. If the merchant can cite a religious reason not to sell a product or perform a service to anyone in the “different” family, they now don’t have to. Most people want to live in communities that are friendly, inclusive, and safe. How many families would stay if they are turned away from the village businesses and would have to travel several miles to buy needed goods and services for their families? They would probably move out. And, the small town’s problem has been “solved.” Is this where you want to live, and not know when you move in this state whether you will be served — or not? This is very real — lots of us have seen it, have felt it, have “given in.”
That’s simply not a realistic situation, if families felt “included” enough to move there initially, there’s likely not going to be prejudicial discrimination present. I cant imagine a situation where someone thought, “hmm this place is super racist/judgemental but ill live here anyway because they cant legally do anything about it.”
If there was ever a reason a family felt uncomfortable in an area they should have left a long time ago, the same reason I will never live in ISIS territory
If the job is nearby, you are going to move where the job is — and if that happens to be a small town where gays are not accepted, you are going to have a hard time getting served.
A few Universal and Buddhist groups will now refuse service any individual who discriminates against gay people, any race, or other faith.Regardless of their claimed faith, it will violate core tenants of equanimity, compassion and benefit to all sentient life and will not be allowed… (loop hole - so do not voice negative ignorance)
If one believes in freedom, and we oppose conservatives using the government to impose moral codes on the people, why doesn’t one also believe in freedom and oppose using the government to force people to do business with people? Freedom is messy, and it involves not having government ban people from doing things just because we don’t like them.
why doesn’t one also believe in freedom and oppose using the government to force people to do business with people?
… after all, the n*****s can have their own water fountains …
Call it what you want its still unconstitutional and it wont stand!
Please, businesses in Indiana, someone use this law to discriminate against Christians. Please show them that a law like this can be used against the people it is designed to protect. Meanwhile, decent people of indiana, boycott any business that claims the right to discriminate. And next time, vote.
Oh man! Can’t wait to be discriminated against!
If you are, there are websites to report the name of the business, where it is located, and what happened. The sane people of Indiana will take care of the rest. There will be a huge rally at the state capitol on Saturday. People are angry.
hiv and herion every where, finding a meth lab in a walmart and so many other places, and this is what makes me ashamed to live in indiana, im not the praying type, but i pray that this is a fake news article
DISGUSTING!! These Taliban thinking people just spat on everything America should stand for and took Indiana back to 16th Century Europe. Get ready for religious wars and a complete break down of civil soceity as every hateful yahoo can now claim an invisible belief as his reason to do whatever he wants. Pandora, welcome to America.
Stop singling out Christians and generalizing them all as homophobes.
I’m a Christian hoosier and am very much opposed to this bill.
Muslims will be allowed to discriminate under this law as well, but nobodys talking about them. Just Christians.
This will allow Muslim communities to implement Sharia law, and give them legal protection for honor killings.
It’s the Christian version of the sharia law.
“Honor killings” are, BTW, not a Muslim thing but a cultural thing. Or do you think that Muslims are one giant behemoth?
Or if a Muslim wants to get a business license, and the County Clerk is Jewish and doesn’t believe Muslims should be allowed to own businesses.
Yup — now you see the problem. The public stands ready to fight back.
Hey people… This law was originally signed by Bill Clinton years ago… This is law in 30 other states.. Get over yourselves and in most cases has little to do with gay marriage… I don’t understand why anyone who want to do business with someone who doensn’t support ones life choices… I would never spend a dime at a place that was filled with haters and wouldn’t think nothing else about it…
Can you cite your statements? (Bill Clinton signed such a law, it’s law in 30 other states)
1993 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT… 19 passed into law 31 have protected rights with legislation… James Madison, the author of the Constitution is probably rolling over in his grave..
That Act was actually liberal in application - Ted Kennedy was its sponsor. It was only introduced to prevent governmental bodies from forcing laws on churches that restricted the practice of their religions (specifically, govt claiming church property by eminent domain, and preventing Native Americans legal use of peyote in religious ceremonies on their grounds). SCOTUS ruled that ACT unconstitutional on the state level back in ’97, though. While many states did create their own, those state versions read the same way. This one in Indiana, though, pertains to private and business actions.
Yes, the law could be interpreted that way — it is goods and services. It could be much like the pharmacist owned drug store that would not sell condoms or any form or birth control; it could even be to refuse to fill a Rx for something they find objectionable in their religious teachings. The language of the law is very broad.
Thank you — I am guessing this will be a trip to small town Indiana, perhaps to places even Hoosiers have never visited.
I attended higher education in Indiana. I don’t recall what I was looking for in the Yellow Pages (which tells you how long ago this was), but I remember being jaw-droppingly shocked to find the local KKK chapter (or whatever you call it) listed there so that people could ring them up.
As a result, this latest prejudicial move does not surprise me (although it saddens me to know that 25 years’ passage has not seen any change).
It is worded in such a way that it is “equal opportunity” discrimination.
Of course … everyone knows that it’s not discrimination to be permitted to refuse service to some minority group because of trumped-up “religious beliefs.” /sarc
The discrimination/refusal to hire, serve, etc. has to be based on religious beliefs. I don’t know of any religion that has no tolerance for whites/straights
Whatever happened to the Constitution of the United States? Does it not exist in Indiana?
Elect Nazs…. Expect to live under a fascist government.
This bill is just a continuation of the ethnic cleansing that has been happening ever since Pence took office. We need to cleanse ourselves of him and these hateful Republicans in our state legislature.
So this will allow a Muslim taxi driver to refuse a fare based on the passenger being an unaccompanied woman or unmarried couple or anybody carrying liquor, right?
Based on the wording of the law, that is correct.
Wow, that’s some can of worms. Although not all Indianian support this, in many people’s minds all living there will represent this. So, Indiana, enjoy the Texas style disdain you’re about to be bombarded with. I’d pop some popcorn but I fear over the course of time, until this mess is corrected, the process will be pretty stomach turning.
It has already turned ugly. The GOP mayor of Indianapolis urged Pence to veto the bill. Ballard got thrown under the bus, and already many conventions that were booked in Indy are “assessing the situation” if this is a welcoming place to come and spend their money. There is no provision in the law that any business has to state their “objections” of folks they won’t serve, so convention people cannot know if they are walking into a business that will not serve them.
This law is unconstitutional and will be struck down, Eventually.
It is getting to that elusive “eventually” that has sane Hoosiers worried.
I suppose this also gives people the right to refuse service to anti-gay Christians then (“Do you oppose LGBT, sir? Oh you do? Please leave my store then”).
Lucky for them, liberals aren’t generally interested in excluding people.
Hopefully this law will get thrown out quickly by the supreme court of Indiana. In the mean time boycott everything Indiana……..
I think ALL of you need to read a little further on this suject. This article is twisted and does not tell the whole truth about the law. I find it discusting to have someone twist the truth to make it fit their agenda
Please tell me how it’s twisted. (But be sure to spell correctly in any reply, though - I find it disgusting when arguments are so poorly structured.)
What the article does not say, or at least not that I seen anyhow, is that the owner has the right to deny service to someone wearing a burqa and hiding the bomb they may have strapped on them that could kill all inside or completely flatten the building and other surrounding buildings.
and what you don’t say, Jim Parker, is that we regularly have terrorists in the US who call themselves Christian - like the woman who threw a Molotov cocktail at a Planned Parenthood facility in Austin just a few days ago.
Well, that’s fabulous. Let’s throw in a little Islamophobia while we’re at it.
But you’d never deny service to Timothy McVeigh, would you? Because he’s a white boy and everyone knows white boys can’t be terrorists. /sarc
Time to RECALL Mike Pence! The Bill signed into Law today was created by membership of the Central Indiana KKK. They Cloaked the Law by calling it “Religious Freedom”…EVERYONE KNOWS OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM! So we really don’t need the hooded members of the Indiana Government to relieve the citizens of 50 + years of Civil Rights Progress! Lets get this show on the road on replace and RECALL Mike Pence. It is known fact that his Central Indiana Family were Klansmen the whole time!
Unfortunately, unlike Wisconsin, there is no provision in the Indiana Constitution to recall a governor. Therefore, the only way to remove him is to not elect him again for another term. Considering there was a petition to recall posted just today, and it collected well over 30,000 signatures, I would think that might give him some pause as to how the electorate feels about his handling of this legislation and his understanding of what this law now means.
I am so utterly ashamed to be a hoosier now. How dare the few bigots in power do this to an entire state full of fellow human beings. It makes me sick to my stomach. Just know that there are still several good people living in Indiana, we aren’t all religious nut jobs who just want to take others freedoms away
If you keep you sexual escapades to yourself no one will know who or what you do to discriminate against you.
unconstitutional…next dumb idea and waste of taxpayer money
This would never fly in Massachusetts
this is stupid….
they are not real christians because if they were this wouldnt happen they think they r but they r not. we dont judge n we love everyone.
WTF FFFFFFFF ???!!!
Here’s my opinion on it, and I don’t care whether anyone likes it or not. I won’t bother replying. I’m not going to bother looking at replies. Here it goes: I believe that business should be able to choose. ALL BUSINESSES. If you don’t like me for whatever reason, and refuse service to me, then why would I want to give you my money anyways? You’re the one losing money. I’ll go somewhere else. No big deal. I’ll go somewhere I support, and the business will get business from people who support them.
Well, Cece … thanks for showing that you don’t have the slightest idea how business law works.
When you come back to look at the replies you claim you won’t read? Look up the Civil Rights Act. Ask yourself why it should be okay to tell someone you won’t serve them because of the color of their skin, or any other reason?
Then, think about the idiocy you wrorte.
That is totally ridiculous and shouldn’t even happened. How dare they . I can just tell people are gonna be pissed and people are gonna die . Hopefully the ones who came up with this but who knows
If I go in somewhere and they deny me for some strange reason I will fight them and cause a big scene and I won’t leave until cops are there and by that time everyone Will know how cruel they are .
Indiana has sent the message that discrimination is okay. I will personally be choosing NOT to go to Gencon in Indianapolis this summer as I had planned. It’s been a long-time dream of mine to attend the biggest gaming convention in the world, but I refuse to give my travel dollars to support bigotry. I hope that if enough people do the same that will send the message. The organizers of Gencon have already stated that they will move the con because of this decision, but I would expect that it’s too late to move this year’s event.
I don’t care what your sexual preference is as long as you keep it to yourself and don’t think that I have to change my religion to accommodate your sin.
Everyone, please turn to page 22 of your hymnal and sing ” … And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love.”
Well said.
1) Muslims and Jews do not EAT pork; there is nothing in their doctrines about serving it to others who wish to eat it. 2) A Christian doctor who is against abortions is probably going to choose another specialty. 3) and 4) Those types of organizations are not likely to choose those vendors.
This bill is clearly unconstitutional and will eventually be overturned by the SCOTUS. But for the immediate present the bills shows the desperation and fear of the religious right. We are in a new progressive age now. No one is discriminating against them, but why the histrionic paranoia? What’s their problem? >30 states allow gay marriage. More are on the way. This means something. The religious right really needs to brood on this.
The problem is that until someone challenges it … and has the funds to take it through the judicial system, this bigotry *stands.*
You’re absolutely right. But I think the ACLU and SPLC are getting ready now to take this through the legal channels. But the big consequence now is that businesses are going to pull out of Indiana. One big corporation has done so, others are thinking that way and the NCAA is seriously considering moving. It’s this economic factor that will hurt Indiana.. The protests in the streets of Indianapolis against this law mean something. This law is an embarrassment to Indiana and America. But I still fail to see why the religious right is so bent out of shape. They don’t have to accept the gay lifestyle, but they do have to treat all people equally and kindly. I grew up in the 1940s-1950s and I have never seen such an outpouring of desperate Christian faith. The country seems to be drowning in “religious convictions” never seen before. Yet history and society is moving the other way. No one is attacking their right to believe and worship as they want, we are attacking their discrimination and intolerance. Where did all this recent bible thumping come from?
Honestly? It came because a bunch of angry white hicks (there, I said it) got their knickers in a knot about a black man with a funny name being in the White House.
I well-understand that. But what I want to know is why all this sudden paranoid hate-filled and vicious and defensive out pouring from the evangelical community? Their religious liberties are not being infringed. Their attitude is very unChristian. Their irritating stance has been going on before Obama. We are an enlightened and progressive society. Indiana’s attempt to go retrograde is laughable, but also sad that these angry old white men don’t know which way the wind is blowing.
If you are a Christian then you should know that there is a difference between tolerating others and endorsing a sin. Its not hate or persecution to not want to have anything to do with a sinful wedding. Is it intolerant to accept others but not wanting to say a sin is good or is it intolerant to demand that others to accept their sin is good? God and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow he has not changed and no matter what others try to say this is still a sin.
christians dont judge or discriminate and love everyone
Lets pick on the blacks, the hispanic, the gays, the jewish, the muslim, the atheist. Call them abomination, or deviant or twist. They are human, more human than you. Who call yourself white, and Christian and good. In your pit of a bed, your sheets smell rank and your halo is tarnished and brown. Look to the future, when your religion is dominated by Hispanic catholics and Black evangelicals. Look to your future when your language is dominated by burgeoning 2 billion Indians and Chinese and America is as irrelevant as “Great” Britain. Mock them while you still can, hate them while you still can - but don’t give your children the same bile - as they will one day be the very minority you pour over with your scorn.
Yet another one who doesn’t understand how public accommodation laws work.
And who is probably a straight white male who would crap a gold brick if someone said “we don’t serve your kind here.”
It’s not discrimination, it’s the right to say “no” when we are asked to do something that goes against our beliefs.
Do you note the contradiction inherent in your own statement?
Boycotting is your right, but it only shows your intolerance.
How ironic. You want the right to be intolerant, but not to have your business boycotted for it.
Calling out your bigotry, madame, is not intolerance — no matter how much you like to comfort yourself by thinking so.
I worked in the deli in a store that had a bakery and the wedding toppers came in a box with both bride and groom.
If by going in and ordering “a cake” was just that ordering a cake and not putting any writing or decorations the person finds offensive, like the one that would not make a sheet cake with “we don’t accept gays, then yes you would be right. Except this one was clearly made known it was for a ‘gay’ wedding not just a wedding.
A wedding is a wedding, sweetie.
Not to every one it seems. A straight wedding is not the same as a gay, polygamy, or a satanic one. Should polygamist allowed to marry?
A straight wedding is not the same as a gay, polygamy, or a satanic one.
Please define how this is the case. I’ll wait.
How did I become your personal teacher? If you don’t know this why are on here posting? It is not that hard to figure out if you think.
You’re the one making all of these claims, not me. It’s up to you to back them up, not me. Please tell me how the weddings are different.
Or admit that there is no difference.
Either will suffice.
Lets see if I can spell it out as you can’t look it up yourself. Also this is not my claims but go ahead and think they are. The Marriage of a man and a woman is the triditional marriage blessed by God the others go against God and are not blessed. What God has brought together… It does not matter when they have happened, how often, or who thinks they are ok, they are not accepted or blessed by God. No Christian should have to go against the Beliefs or values to provide, hold the wedding or reception, or cater any other wedding than the straight wedding.
The Marriage of a man and a woman is the triditional marriage blessed by God
Oh, so it’s “triditional” [sic], eh?
Shall we look at all of the kinds of “triditional” [sic] marriage in the Bible? For example the “tridition” [sic] of a rapist marrying a woman after paying her father for *property damage*? Or of soldiers marrying prisoners of war, whether the woman wants them or not?
I could keep going …
No Christian should have to go against the Beliefs or values to provide,
hold the wedding or reception, or cater any other wedding than the
straight wedding.
Then, “no Christian” should open a public accommodation. When one does so, one is required to serve the public without discriminating.
You can’t even spell “traditional,” and you expect me to take you seriously?
Marriage is a civil contract. That’s why you have to have a license from the state. Ministers are permitted to perform legally binding weddings as a *courtesy,* and that must be cited during the ceremony; you know, that whole “by the power vested in me by the State of …” business?
You seriously need to educate yourself.
Are you going to claim that anyone who is not Christian is not really married? Because you included pagan and Satanic (BTW, Satan is a Christian deity) weddings as “not real,” so I’m curious.
Thank you, though, for admitting to your religious bigotry. It’s quite refreshing to see that level of honesty.