A few weeks ago an Oregon bakery made headlines when the state ruled that it violated the civil rights of a gay couple by refusing to make their wedding cake. Now Tennessee Senator Brian Kelsey has introduced Senate Bill 2566 which will allow for business to refuse services and goods to homosexuals if it furthers a civil union, domestic partnership or same-sex marriage.
For Oregon state law bans what Kelsey is trying to implement with his bill. So, in other words if a bakery in Tennessee decided it didn’t want to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple then it can do so based on passing of this bill. All that person or business will have to claim “it was against their religion.”
Jonathan Cole of the Tennessee Equality Project claims that “it’s bad for attracting talent that would be offered a job to come and work for a corporation here in Tennessee. When they see bills like this capturing the headlines, it really reflects poorly on the state.”
Many get confused with the First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This means in the first part that there’s never been an established religion of the United State despite what some may believe.
The second part involving exercising their religion is what comes into play. An individual coming into a bakery to buy a wedding cake plays no role in prohibiting how a person or business exercises their religious beliefs. Does a gay couple not allow the business owner not to go to their church, temple or mosque? How about sharing their own beliefs with that said couple?
Yet, it’s perfectly fine to affect the lives of the consumer by discriminating? What’s even sadder is that this is happening in 2014. Still Dale Hansen a sportscaster in Dallas, Texas puts Kelsey in his place. He’s speaking on the subject of Michael Sam the SEC Defensive Player Of The Year in 2013 and likely third-to-fifth round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and will get the opportunity to become the first openly gay player in the NFL.
As for Kelsey here’s a better idea for those who have similar beliefs. Scrap the bill and instead look to treat each other as human and that is with respect, love and tolerance instead of misplaced hate and ignorance. Also, the good people of Tennessee need to vote this particular Senator out.