Republicans Have New Brilliant Idea: What If We Keep Being Mean To Gays Some More?
It's in the Bible.
Just a few weeks ago, we were giving the Republican National Committee a TINY bit of credit for refusing to approve two really bad resolutions about how gays are the real terrorists or something, but now we have to take that credit right back, because surprise, they're being assholes again. I know, big shocker for a Monday when you're still hungover from the weekend. You see, the RNC passed a resolution asking Congress to pass this thing called the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), which doesn't do dick to defend anybody's First Amendment rights, but rather, gives conservatives a hall pass in case they want to discriminate against gays:
“Our bill ensures that the federal government does not penalize Americans for following their religious beliefs or moral convictions on traditional marriage,” [Iadho Rep. Raul] Labrador said. “Our bill shields against federal intrusion without taking anything away from anyone. In a shifting landscape, it’s time that Congress proactively defend this sacred right.”
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But the RNC says no, this is not about hating gays, where'd you even GET that idea? This is just to protect all the sad, put-upon religious people who might be forced to confront the fact that gay people exist, and they might even have to do it at work!
Ellen Barrosse, the RNC Chair of the Conservative Steering Committee, told The Daily Signal in an interview that the resolution is “an attempt, for those of us who are people of faith, to protect religious organizations.” [...]“Does Catholic Charities have to place children with gay couples, or will they have to shut down?” she asked. “This is a free market, there are other agencies that will place children with them.”
Barrosse dismissed the argument that religious liberty protections allow for discrimination.
“Americans abhor discrimination.”
Yeah, about that. Americans have come a long way, but this nation's record on discrimination isn't exactly wonderful. And Catholic Charities has never, ever been "forced" to shut down. Catholic Charities has, multiple times, been told that its adoption work is happening in the public square, and as such, the group has to abide by the fucking law, and if that law says you have to consider gay couples equally, then that is the fucking law. Catholic Charities has assessed this situation and has decided in several states that hating gay people is more important to God, Jesus and Mother Mary than making sure orphan children have homes, and so they stopped doing adoptions of their OWN volition. This is not persecution. This is Catholic Charities having fucked up priorities, and also just being a really shitty organization.
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It's not just Catholic Charities the RNC resolution is seeking to protect. Republicans want to defend all True Christian Americans from persecution: the fundamentalist Christian cake bakers and pizzeria owners and florists, and whoever else whines incessantly that Jesus didn't die in the Battle Of Yorktown so they'd be forced to do business with homosexuals, in the same way their parents and grandparents fought tooth and nail for their American religious freedom to deny service to black folks.
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Anyway, good luck with your little resolution, RNC. We're sure this law, if it ever passed (LOL), would hold up great in court.
Evan Hurst is the managing editor of Wonkette, which means he is the boss of you, unless you are Rebecca, who is boss of him. His dog Lula is judging you right now.
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