The conservative religious crowd of individuals and organizations around the US have certainly gotten good at portraying themselves as victims of bigotry and discrimination when it is in fact they themselves who are perpetrating said bigotry and discrimination. They decry their 'religious freedom' is being impinged upon to mask their overt acts of discrimination against those of us in the Gay community. However as I have said before, their right to 'religious freedom' is the same right all Americans have to their own religious beliefs or not and to have the freedom from religion if they so choose. Most of the cries of 'religious freedom impingement' come from business owners who use religious beliefs or Bible thumping as an excuse for their discrimination against Gay customers in the realm of public accommodation in jurisdictions where there is an ordinance or law prohibiting such discrimination. Their are only 21 of the 50 states that include sexual orientation and/or gender identity as a protected class. Here in Texas, there is no such protection. Any Gay person can still be fired just for being gay, they can be kicked out of their apartment, and refused service at any public accommodation.
In places everywhere across the US but especially in places without anti-discrimination laws, it is not unusual to find Gay or Transgendered people as the victims of discrimination, violence, even death. I have yet to see the highways and byways lined with 'Christians' hung on crosses nor have I seen the roofs of religious institutions and churches caved in or burnt to the ground for believing as they do. Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson in a column penned just yesterday in the Daily Beast argues this very point. Bishop Robinson's salient point from the column is this:
"But I have to ask: are religious conservatives confusing the pain of finding oneself “suddenly” in the minority with actually being a victim? Both feel uncomfortable, even painful, and are fraught with anxiety. But they’re very different.
Here’s what victimization looks like: every day, especially in some places, LGBT people face the real possibility of violence because of their orientation or gender identity. Young people jump off bridges or hang themselves on playground swing sets because of the bullying and discrimination they face. In 29 states, one can be fired from one’s job simply for being gay, with no recourse to the courts. In most places, we cannot legally marry the one we love. Some of us have been kicked out of the house when we come out to our parents, and many young LGBT people find themselves homeless and on the streets because of the attitudes of their religious parents toward their LGBT children. And did I mention the everyday threat of violence?"
Here’s what victimization looks like: every day, especially in some places, LGBT people face the real possibility of violence because of their orientation or gender identity. Young people jump off bridges or hang themselves on playground swing sets because of the bullying and discrimination they face. In 29 states, one can be fired from one’s job simply for being gay, with no recourse to the courts. In most places, we cannot legally marry the one we love. Some of us have been kicked out of the house when we come out to our parents, and many young LGBT people find themselves homeless and on the streets because of the attitudes of their religious parents toward their LGBT children. And did I mention the everyday threat of violence?"
Bishop Robinson goes on to explain the differences and concludes:
"I do not mean to brush aside as inconsequential the
feelings of those who find themselves in the minority, whether it be
around the topic of gender, race, or sexual orientation. But I do mean
to question characterizing such feelings as discrimination, violation of
religious freedom, and victimization. It’s time we called out our
religious brothers and sisters for misunderstanding their
recently-acquired status as members of a shrinking minority as victims."
I do not begrudge the conservative religious crowd their belief system, however I wish they would respect me enough not to begrudge me my own belief system, even as it is diametrically opposite of their own. That is what the right to religious freedom is all about. It is about time those conservative religious people and organizations learned this very basic lesson about Constitutional Freedoms.
When I sat down to put this post together, I was in a mood for some cello music which I have not featured in any recent Musical Moments. So I thought I would rectify this with today's Musical Moment which features Antonio Vivaldi's Cello Concerti Numbers RV 400, 401, 408, 413, 422 and 531. Today's performance is by the City of London Sinfonia, Nicholas Kraemer Conducting and on Harpsichord featuring Rafael Wallfisch as the Cello Soloist. You may also hear Beethoven's amazing 'Thriple Concerto' for Violin, Cello and Piano featuring Isaac Stern, Yo Yo Ma and Emmanuel Ax as the soloists over on my tumblr.
Then just to change things up a bit this week, I thought I would resurrect a man candy them I have not used in a while with today's collection of hard bodied hunks splashing about various bodies of water in this edition of Sexy Studs in Swimwear on display below the video. There is also the scorching Hottie of the Day! for further inspiration over on my tumblr. Thanks for sharing part of your Tues day with me, see you again tomorrow. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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