A major draw back of living in the greater Norfolk, Virginia, area is the often toxic influence that flows from Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network ("CBN") - which perhaps might be better named Crazies Broadcasting Network - and Regent University and its law school. With these organizations objective fact and the constitutional rights of other citizens are irrelevant. It's all about the beliefs of the organizations' adherents that trump all else and which constantly interfere with the rights of others be it rational sex education programs in the public schools to employment non-discrimination protections for those other than Bible thumping fundamentalists. Like so many of the Christianist organizations, the folks at CBN seem to deem themselves as being exempt from the Commandment against lying and bearing false witness. The truth becomes whatever they want it to be in their alternate universe. Now CBN has joined in the anti-ENDA effort with other veracity challenged Christianists (e.g., Andrea Lafferty) and is actively disseminating lies in an effort to block the passage of ENDA which would bar religious based discrimination against LGBT Americans in the workplace, yet leave appropriate exemptions for churches and religious organizations as well as "mom and pop" employers with less than 15 employees. Here are samplings from CBN's latest salvo (Note first how sexual orientation is a "behavior" to these folks who reject the conclusions of legitimate medical and mental health experts, and second how gays would get "special" protections): *
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Gay rights advocates often claim that gay Americans are denied employment, fired from their jobs, or otherwise discriminated against just because they are gay. In response, advocacy groups have been pushing for a federal law to protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgendered individuals from employment discrimination. But some wonder if such a law could endanger the religious freedom Americans have enjoyed since this country was founded.
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"ENDA is in principle a good idea -- that is to say continuing protections for employees against unjustified discrimination," explained Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, president of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance. "The difficulty here is that the behavior in question is homosexuality."
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Gay rights advocates often claim that gay Americans are denied employment, fired from their jobs, or otherwise discriminated against just because they are gay. In response, advocacy groups have been pushing for a federal law to protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgendered individuals from employment discrimination. But some wonder if such a law could endanger the religious freedom Americans have enjoyed since this country was founded.
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"ENDA is in principle a good idea -- that is to say continuing protections for employees against unjustified discrimination," explained Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, president of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance. "The difficulty here is that the behavior in question is homosexuality."
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Christian retailers are not exempt. That means any Christian business with 15 or more employees would have to comply if the law was passed. Scottie Velvin and her husband have owned The Harvest Company, a Christian bookstore in Chesapeake, Va., for more than 20 years. They're following ENDA closely although they have fewer than 15 workers. They believe ENDA could influence the publishers whose books they buy and possibly future employees. "Long-term we may see some changes," Velvin told CBN News. "I'm not naive enough to think this is the end of it. Bills in the past have been altered and amended and it could very easily happen to this one."
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Also at risk, Christian para-church organizations like the humanitarian group World Vision. It has spent years in court defending its religious status. It may have to again under the religious exemption language found in ENDA.
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Nimocks [of the Alliance Defense Fund] and other conservatives believe ENDA will also impede public schools. The special protections for gay and transgendered teachers will make it extremely difficult for districts that might want to remove them from the classroom.
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Many advocates are wondering what could come next. First, it was hate crimes. Then ENDA -- followed by same-sex marriage? That's already been the pattern in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. "We know this president and the leadership of this Congress have advocated for the repeal of DOMA," Nimocks explained. "So redefining marriage at the federal level could definitely be the next step."
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Bob McDonnell claims that he wants to be a "jobs governor," but with reactionary institutions like Regent University, Liberty University and The Family Foundation holding far too much sway politically and socially in Virginia, why would a progressive business want to relocate here? Those who seek economic progress need to be asking this question. It is far past time that religious based discrimination be removed from all civil laws, both state and federal.
Christian retailers are not exempt. That means any Christian business with 15 or more employees would have to comply if the law was passed. Scottie Velvin and her husband have owned The Harvest Company, a Christian bookstore in Chesapeake, Va., for more than 20 years. They're following ENDA closely although they have fewer than 15 workers. They believe ENDA could influence the publishers whose books they buy and possibly future employees. "Long-term we may see some changes," Velvin told CBN News. "I'm not naive enough to think this is the end of it. Bills in the past have been altered and amended and it could very easily happen to this one."
*
Also at risk, Christian para-church organizations like the humanitarian group World Vision. It has spent years in court defending its religious status. It may have to again under the religious exemption language found in ENDA.
*
Nimocks [of the Alliance Defense Fund] and other conservatives believe ENDA will also impede public schools. The special protections for gay and transgendered teachers will make it extremely difficult for districts that might want to remove them from the classroom.
*
Many advocates are wondering what could come next. First, it was hate crimes. Then ENDA -- followed by same-sex marriage? That's already been the pattern in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. "We know this president and the leadership of this Congress have advocated for the repeal of DOMA," Nimocks explained. "So redefining marriage at the federal level could definitely be the next step."
*
Bob McDonnell claims that he wants to be a "jobs governor," but with reactionary institutions like Regent University, Liberty University and The Family Foundation holding far too much sway politically and socially in Virginia, why would a progressive business want to relocate here? Those who seek economic progress need to be asking this question. It is far past time that religious based discrimination be removed from all civil laws, both state and federal.
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