Gay Rights vs. Religious Freedom?

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Today I got a new email from my friends at the American Family Association, titled “Gay rights trump religious freedom.” It’s about the idea that same-sex marriage and gay rights somehow curtail religious freedom. It first sites how the California Supreme Court ruled 7-0 that homosexual rights trump religious freedom, in a case involving Christian doctors who withheld “unnecessary” medical care from gays and lesbians.

In the case, a lesbian woman went to a Christian fertility clinic, and the doctors refused to artificially inseminate her, soley because she was a lesbian. She sued, and the Supreme Court ended up ruling in favor of her. The email repeatedly refers to her as “the lesbian,” in a similar context to how someone may say “the dog” or “the pig.” This is more evidence that they’re intolerant and homophobic.

To me, this isn’t curtailing religious freedoms in any way, it just means that doctors have to do their job, instead of trying to be all Evangelical. A major point is that the AFA is not for religious freedom, as much as it’s all for a Christian theocracy. For example, when Keith Ellison, the first Muslim senator in the US, was sworn in with a Koran, the AFA raised a huge stink. If they were for “religious freedom,” don’t you think they’d be all for that, cheering on Keith Ellison and his rights?

In general, Republicans aren’t the ones who are that big on freedom, nor are the Democrats, just to note. They don’t seem to understand what “religious freedom” is. They have religious freedom, we all do. I have the freedom to be a blasthemer and a heretic, while you all have the right to be Christian or Muslim or Hindu, and so on. What the AFA and other organizations wants is a Christian nation, where the 50 stars of the US flag are replaced by a cross, and our first amendment rights are curtailed in favor of a “moral” society. The AFA, if they ever get into power, would ban homosexuality, catapult women into the kitchen, and force everyone to dress “modestly.”

You won’t find any racial or homophobic epithets on their site. This doesn’t mean they aren’t homophobic and intolerant. Just go to their Wikipedia article, and you’ll see how many people they have boycotted and protested, simply because their opinions differ.

I really cannot wait for my next email! I hope it’s something good.

(By the way, I signed up for AFA "Action Alerts" so I can spy on them, hehe)
  • added August 21, 2008
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13 responses // Gay Rights vs. Religious Freedom?

  •  

    You remember how righteously (forgive the term) I disproved the so called "human rights violations" by the evil gay agenda that Clay posted. No different.

    Dmitri_Molotov
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    Thank you Fallen for this post.
    My expression of religious freedom is being a diehard atheist who takes the liberty to ridicule most so-called Christians. While the basic premise of Christianity is to help your neighbors and be tolerant, American Christians, for the most part, delight in demonizing any lifestyles other than their own. Generally, they appear closeted and close-minded and insecure.
    If they tell you that gays threaten marriage, does that mean they have secret gay tendencies themselves? It would go a long way explaining Republican gay scandals.
    What sad is that organized religion makes bigots out of their flock.

    ProgressiveBum
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    Muslims are muslim.

    Christians are christian

    Catholics are catholic

    Believers are believers

    Lesbians are lesbian

    The AFA belong to the 18th century

    Cogito ergo sum

    themanwithadog
  •  

    I think the one line in the article puts it into perspective;
    " To me, this isn’t curtailing religious freedoms in any way, it just means that doctors have to do their job, instead of trying to be all Evangelical. "
    I would be pissed if I had to hear a sermon when I went to see my doctor.

    Brockie
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    The AFA would burn witches if tha was still in. Religion is about love and understanding. Where did all this hate come from. God is the jugde of all, and we are all sinners. No one should have this hollier than thou feeling.

    We all fall short!!!!

    Worry about what God is going to say to you at your time to face him, and maybe the doors will open.

    Tradiggy
    1 response to this
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    wow hmmm i think it has to do about love not how you make love! i mean as long as you love that person and you love them with your heart and no just your body why should it matter? if your just doing it for sex then you are not bi or gay or lez. your just a horn dog! and by da way didnt god want us 2 love every one?

    LovelessNhated4life
    2 responses to this
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    God, in Christianity, is supposed to be loving towards everyone, not everyone except gays, jews, muslims, etc.

    FallenMorgan
    1 response to this
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    The principle fault in the ADA's antiquated argument is this: learned faith and in-born genetic individuality are two very different things, in that humans--as well as MANY animal species--are HARD-WIRED with their sexuality; people are reared in, converted to and (sometimes) pushed into religious faith. Faith is fine for those who seek it in THEMSELVES, not those who want to control OTHERS with it.

    Love is supposed to be blind, but ANY religious intolerance towards the GLBT community render that love stricken with madness.

    This world is wide and strange and beautiful in its' crazy diversity; diversity claimed to have been created by a God of many names in many cultures.

    If "all things" were made as they are by some "divine" hand, are they not a facet of that "God"? And who decides that one man/woman is unworthy while another is chosen?

    khromadjo
  •  

    A personal note: I called them the ADA (American Demagoguery Association), not the AFA.

    khromadjo

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