Another virulently anti-Gay conservative religious wing nut has surfaced in the Texas State Senate, like we didn't have enough of them here in Texas already. State Senator Donna Campbell has introduced legislation to enshrine the 'right' to discriminate against LGBTs in the Texas State Constitution. The bill would allow businesses and government contractors to refuse service to Gays and fire their employees who happen to be LGBT. The legislation invokes 'religious liberty' as the reason for its introduction making the following outrageous statement:
“Our Judeo-Christian values are under assault and I’m not going to let that stand. We have the right and religious freedom to express ourselves. When the government moves outside the proper bounds of the primary role, especially in order to legislate societal norms, they’re on shaky ground. Really it’s a few, just a few advocates, of tolerance. They are trying to criminalize faith and traditional values of the majority of Texans. Tolerance is going too far in this instance.”
Campbell's proposed constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 10, states that government "may not burden an individual’s or religious organization’s freedom of religion or right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief unless the government proves that the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest." SJR 10 goes on to say that a "burden" includes "indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, and denying access to facilities or programs."
Alvin McEwen of the blog Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters wrote a very thoughtful piece this morning citing this legislation in his examination of the 'religious liberty' issue. In his post, Religious Freedom = Discrimination:A complex issue explained in simple terms, dicusses this legislation in particular as well as the 'religious freedom' argument in general when he states "The 'religious liberty' argument is a farce designed to send a constant reminder to gays from folks like Campbell saying "We don't care what the law says or what the court says. You don't deserve to be on our level and in our minds you never will be. You don't deserve equal treatment under the law and we will never let you forget that.""
Alvin then goes on to discuss the issue comparing discrimination against Gays being very similar to past minority discrimination in this country, providing examples in prose and pictures stating "After all, how is the 'religious liberty' argument, which would allow discrimination against gays, any different than one which would allow discrimination against Jewish people, African-Americans, the Chinese, etc? In the end, it doesn't matter how one sugarcoats it. Discrimination is discrimination."
My fear for my home state is that this is just the beginning of the stupidity that will reign here in the Lone Star State for the next couple of years with wing nuts galore in the State Legislature and Cro-Magnon homophobic assholes in the Governor, Lt Governor and Attorney General offices. Running to a more LGBT friendly location, while pleasant to think about, does not solve the problem here at home. I will stay and fight for Equality in Texas, but it is bound to get worse around here before it gets better.
Your Midweek Musical Moment features the Music of Domenico Scarlatti with a series of Harpsichord Sonatas transcribed for Acoustic Guitar. Today's performance is by Edoardo Catemario. His play list includes Sonatas K.198 in E Minor 0:00; K.208 in A MajorA-dur 3:52; K533 in A Major 8:03; K11 in C Flat 12:00; K380 in F Major 14:50; K178 D Major 20:41; K77 D Minor 23:05; K32 in D Flat 30:31 K322 in A Major. You may also hear Valerio Losito and Andrea Coen's performance of Scarlatti's Sonatas for Viola d'Amore and Harpsichord over on my tumblr.
It is quite frosty in most parts of the country today so today's Wet Wednesday collection of sultry studs splashing about the page will serve to remind us all that it is still summer somewhere. These soaked studs will surely turn the heat up for us, if only below the waist, lol. For some stunning naked wetness, check out Addison Graham, Your Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr. Thanks for checking in to say 'hey', see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
“Our Judeo-Christian values are under assault and I’m not going to let that stand. We have the right and religious freedom to express ourselves. When the government moves outside the proper bounds of the primary role, especially in order to legislate societal norms, they’re on shaky ground. Really it’s a few, just a few advocates, of tolerance. They are trying to criminalize faith and traditional values of the majority of Texans. Tolerance is going too far in this instance.”
Campbell's proposed constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 10, states that government "may not burden an individual’s or religious organization’s freedom of religion or right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief unless the government proves that the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest." SJR 10 goes on to say that a "burden" includes "indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, and denying access to facilities or programs."
Alvin McEwen of the blog Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters wrote a very thoughtful piece this morning citing this legislation in his examination of the 'religious liberty' issue. In his post, Religious Freedom = Discrimination:A complex issue explained in simple terms, dicusses this legislation in particular as well as the 'religious freedom' argument in general when he states "The 'religious liberty' argument is a farce designed to send a constant reminder to gays from folks like Campbell saying "We don't care what the law says or what the court says. You don't deserve to be on our level and in our minds you never will be. You don't deserve equal treatment under the law and we will never let you forget that.""
Alvin then goes on to discuss the issue comparing discrimination against Gays being very similar to past minority discrimination in this country, providing examples in prose and pictures stating "After all, how is the 'religious liberty' argument, which would allow discrimination against gays, any different than one which would allow discrimination against Jewish people, African-Americans, the Chinese, etc? In the end, it doesn't matter how one sugarcoats it. Discrimination is discrimination."
My fear for my home state is that this is just the beginning of the stupidity that will reign here in the Lone Star State for the next couple of years with wing nuts galore in the State Legislature and Cro-Magnon homophobic assholes in the Governor, Lt Governor and Attorney General offices. Running to a more LGBT friendly location, while pleasant to think about, does not solve the problem here at home. I will stay and fight for Equality in Texas, but it is bound to get worse around here before it gets better.
Your Midweek Musical Moment features the Music of Domenico Scarlatti with a series of Harpsichord Sonatas transcribed for Acoustic Guitar. Today's performance is by Edoardo Catemario. His play list includes Sonatas K.198 in E Minor 0:00; K.208 in A MajorA-dur 3:52; K533 in A Major 8:03; K11 in C Flat 12:00; K380 in F Major 14:50; K178 D Major 20:41; K77 D Minor 23:05; K32 in D Flat 30:31 K322 in A Major. You may also hear Valerio Losito and Andrea Coen's performance of Scarlatti's Sonatas for Viola d'Amore and Harpsichord over on my tumblr.
It is quite frosty in most parts of the country today so today's Wet Wednesday collection of sultry studs splashing about the page will serve to remind us all that it is still summer somewhere. These soaked studs will surely turn the heat up for us, if only below the waist, lol. For some stunning naked wetness, check out Addison Graham, Your Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr. Thanks for checking in to say 'hey', see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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