Indiana Gov. signs "religious freedom" bill into law

What if Verducci turned down Michael Sam because Sam is black?

 

Is your catering business refusing service because it has a backup of time-sensitive paperwork so big it would prevent it from conducting its normal business during normal working hours or because you'd be servicing homos?

 

OK. You've stopped trying to make points, and are just ranting now.

Yes. The world would be a better place if we didn't have hicks in Indiana who were mean to gays. We should all be nice to each other and try to be as understanding of our differences, and as accommodating to each other as possible.

We should celebrate our diversity.

Majorities shouldn't try to impose their values or beliefs upon others, and shouldn't punish those who are different than them.

I agree with all of this -- as strongly as you do.

The question is about what the law should mandate. I can disagree with someone's actions, and still not think they should be illegal.

Thinking it should be illegal doesn't make you a higher moral being.

And, I wish religion were taken out of this whole discussion. For one thing, your biases come out when the debate hinges on someone's religious belief.

 

What if?

It would make him a horrible person. What should the punishment be?

 

I don't know. What's the punishment for a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

 

Right. But if you already are a caterer, it's forcing you to stop being one.

 

It's a judgement call.

Maybe if business was slow, I'd suck it up -- no pun intended -- and cater a gay wedding.

But, when time is critical -- and it always is -- we have to pick and choose how we spend our time. And, maybe I'd decide that I'd rather spend my time on something other than catering a big fat gay wedding.

Am i now in legal peril? Should I be?

 

It would make him a terrible person and it would also make him an idiot, because he's letting his own bigotry get in the way of his job.

That's the same way I see this catering debate. If you're stupid enough to turn down work for no reason other than you can't handle a gay wedding, then you're letting your own bigotry get in the way of your job.

 

Not really.

I think we can all agree the people discriminated against should be allowed legal recourse to a certain degree.

Now, someone refuses to service a Homowedding simply because they don't like gay people or believe Homoweddings are "sins." If, during the course of legal recourse, restitution is deemed warranted, it can come in many other forms than forcing the original objector to perform the act anyway.

What this law, as originally written, did was give the option for legal recourse to the discriminator, not the discriminee.

 

Well, it's giving you a choice between being a caterer and violating your religious beliefs or not being a caterer.

 

I guess I don't see it as "bigotry."

They sincerely believe that same sex sexual relations are sinful. I think they're wrong, but that's what they believe.

 

There are other exceptions. Military service, marital status, having children.