As you may have heard, the Arizona Senate has passed a bill, AB 1062, which is being referred to by its supporters as a “religious freedom” bill. It would allow any individual or company in Arizona legal protections from discrimination lawsuits if they were to refuse service to someone when that person or business owner believes that providing such services would violate their religious beliefs.
Several other states have tried to pass similar bills recently (such as Kansas) but so far none have passed. It’s not clear at this time if Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will sign the bill. It’s also not clear that the law would stand up to any kind of legal challenge if it were signed into law.
On the flip side, there are twenty-one states which specifically forbid anyone denying services due to someone’s sexual orientation. This has been part of the motivation for Arizona to try to push for this law. They are concerned that some hypothetical baker in Arizona would be forced by law to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage when the baker’s religious beliefs are strongly opposed to same-sex marriage. In their opinion, this would violate the baker’s rights to freedom of religion. (This is also why these types of laws are referred to as “no cake for gays” laws.)
The measure has been strongly promoted by two conservative groups, the Center for Arizona Policy and Defending Freedom Alliance. (Please note, the online stories from the various news services have links to these organizations — I very, very deliberately do not. If you really, really want to go to their web page, google it.) It has also received strong support from the Arizona Catholic Conference. (I have never in my life been so happy to be a “recovering” Catholic.)
Of course, there are many Arizona groups opposing the bill, including business leaders who are concerned that it will send the message that Arizona is bigoted. They’re correct — it will send that message, because, well, Arizona is being bigoted.
Many have also pointed out that most businesses in Arizona (and every other state) are so in need of customers that they can’t afford to turn down anyone, regardless of what the customer does in the privacy of their own bedroom. That would be my first assumption, but I guess their God does a better job of taking care of their business for them because they’re turning down customers in His name than my God does. (Should I be urging my God to get on the ball and stop being a slacker in that regard?)
While the proponents of the bill are very good at wrapping themselves in the flag and the Bible in order to argue that this law is good for us and proposed out of their love of fundamental American freedom (otherwise known as “hypocritically lying through their teeth”), I have to wonder if their law goes far enough. After all, if you’re going to go on record, repeatedly, as a bunch of ignorant, bigoted, hate-filled, pinheads, why stop with anti-gay legislation?
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is Muslim, he could refuse to make a cake for a Bar Mitzvah?
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is white, he could refuse to make a cake for a Martin Luther King Day celebration? (After all, Arizona refused to recognize MLK Day for five years or so, and only relented when a significant boycott got established and it became obvious that the state wasn’t going to get the Super Bowl or NCAA Championship game if they didn’t relent? Fundamental principles are critical and the basis of our moral foundations — right up to the point where billions of dollars are involved. Then, as Winston Churchill said…)
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is an N’Sync fan, he could refuse to make a cake for a Backstreet Boys reunion rave?
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is a nudist, he could refuse to make a cake for customers wearing clothes?
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is a pacifist, he could refuse to make a cake for an NRA member?
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is member of the Flat Earth Society, he could refuse to make a cake for astronaut Mark Kelly’s birthday? (Extra points if you “get” this one!)
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is an Arizona Wildcat, he could refuse to make a cake for a Arizona State Sun Devil tailgate party? After all, if we’re going to support hatred, let’s start at home!
Why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker is a misogynist, he could refuse to make a cake for a bachelorette party?
Finally, why not a law that says if the hypothetical baker has an IQ bigger than his shoe size, he could refuse to make a cake for a member of the Arizona Senate because they’re freakin’ idiots?
Curious minds want to know.
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 