Mixed Feelings About Indiana’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Law

Businesses in Indiana can now discriminate against gay people based on their "religious freedom". You might think that I might immediately be against this hate filled law, but I actually have mixed feelings about it.

I find this law to be about as reprehensible as a law can get. It's also laughable to call this type of anti-gay hate as "religious freedom". The think I LIKE about it though is, it brings the bigots out into the light. I only wish it was mandatory for them to post in their windows that they refuse service to gays.  Heathen called me out on this though and said "it's like posting no coloreds in the window".  That brought me around a bit, but my side of this is working too. A 50 million dollar convention is now looking for another state to locate in. A billion dollar business has ceased investment in Indiana and the NCAA among others have expressed concern over the law. Indiana is going to find itself losing millions, if not billions of dollars in business, conventions and tourism. The way I see this law is, it allowed the cockroaches into the light so they can be stepped on. I also like that it's going to be real obvious, real quick, that there is a high price to pay for this hate.

This law has become a favorite among conservative lawmakers because it really energizes their base. It doesn't seem to matter that a lot of people get hurt and that it will greatly impact the economics of the state. They can only see as far as their next election and this kind of passion means votes and campaign donations. I expect we'll see the law brought up and probably passed in Texas. We will then join a group of states that will see depressed economies until cooler heads prevail.

I also find this law an embarrassment for the Christian religion. If you really believe god will punish you because you baked a cake for a gay people, then you probably need to a look a bit harder at your religion.  I found this in the bible: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  Do you notice that it doesn't say "except" anywhere in that sentence? I think it's pretty damn clear from both a religious and from a human standpoint that denying someone service base not their sexual orientation is not exercising "religious freedom", but exercising plain old hate and cloaking it in religion.