Wait, actually, I definitely can. Before I even get started on my main point I will throw it out there now. Those of you who know me know that I'm pretty libertarian on social issues. Moving on, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed the proposed legislation that would allow businesses to deny gays and lesbians service based on their religious beliefs.
It is truly mind boggling to me that this is something I have to write in the 21st century - in what I at least thought was a civilized society. I honestly don't even know where to begin with this.
First of all, this is not even something that should be debatable. I can honestly understand why there is a debate over gay marriage. People view marriage as a deeply religious institution and they see the State as degrading that by allowing gay people to be married. I disagree, but I can see where the argument comes from. I simply cannot see where any argument can be made that this is an issue of religious freedom. I went to Catholic school from 5th to 12th grade. I went to Sunday school before that. I know Christianity pretty well. I don't remember a part of the bible or any Christian faith whose major tenets include no serving gay people at your establishment. How is serving a gay or lesbian at your restaurant inhibiting the free exercise of your religion? I cannot see any way that it does. Even if I were to accept this, the second problem with a bill such as the proposed Arizona law is the social impact of this bill. As Governor Brewer rightly says, "...it could divide Arizona in ways we cannot even imagine and no one would ever want."
The second and far more troubling specter the bills creates is that of a deep societal schism. How do proponents of this bill determine who is gay and who is not? Is it a matter of asking every pair of men or women who come in if they are gay? I cannot imagine anything much more degrading than the host of a restaurant asking "Are you two just friends or gay?" We can do this in a more simpler way - we'll issue some badges so we know who is gay before they even walk into a restaurant. No wait... I remember another group of people doing something similar - that's right - the Nazis and parts of Europe in the Middle Ages. It is simply ridiculous - will we allow the owner of an establishment to turn someone away because they look gay to them?
Even if I were to concede that not serving a gay or lesbian is a fundamental part of your religious beliefs, how do you determine if someone is gay without creating a fundamental societal schism by labeling gays and lesbians in a way that marginalizes them? Simply put, you can't. This is a fundamental part of someone's individual identity. Put bluntly - this bill, were it to become law - would be persecuting a smaller segment of society because we simply don't like them.
In closing, I'll quote Governor Brewer again, "I understand that the long held norms about marriage and family are being challenged as never before." Regardless of your opinion, there can be no argument that there is a movement to take us away from the traditional view of what a marriage or family is. That is not the issue is here. The issue is far simpler (and more fundamental) - how do we interact as a society?
The great leaders of the civil rights movements worked to bring us together as a society because we are all equal. Sixty years later we're trying to redraw lines that they fought so hard to abolish. Instead of allowing discrimination based on race, this bill would've allowed discrimination based on sexual orientation. Discrimination is discrimination and it simply isn't right. Not in an area so fundamental as where you eat, spend the night, or shop.
