The Rise Of Hate Crime Supporting Laws | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Rise Of Hate Crime Supporting Laws

Or technically "religious freedom."

13
The Rise Of Hate Crime Supporting Laws
thenation.com

If you pay much attention to the news, then you've probably heard a lot about "religious freedom" bills being drafted in many state legislatures. Probably one of the most talked about at the time is North Carolina's new bill which most consider to be the most anti-LGBTQ bill yet. In short, discriminating against a person based on sexual orientation or gender is now entirely legal in North Carolina. You can have them removed from your business, refuse to sell them property and refuse to hire them based on those grounds. Perhaps most upsetting is that the bill was written, voted through the house and signed by the governor of North Carolina within 24 hours.

Georgia similarly passed a "religious freedom" bill that would also basically allow free discrimination against the LGBTQ community as long as you cite religious reasons for doing so. The state is only now rethinking this decision because the NFL is threatening to hold next year's Super Bowl in a different state because of the law. So, if you know anything about the commissioner of football, Roger Goodell, then you know that's really saying something.

My own state of Utah tried to pass an anti-discrimination bill that would make things like this entirely illegal. But when I say "state" I actually mean a single state representative. State senator Stephen Urquhart from St. George, Utah, sponsored a bill that would essentially make any discriminatory acts against people of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, anything, illegal. Then the Mormon church stepped in. Although they don't often weigh in on state political issues, they released a statement saying that they were concerned such a bill would tip the scales for the LGBTQ community in such a way that it would clash with the state's conservative values. Whatever the flying hell that's supposed to mean. Normally a church weighing in on a law is no big deal, but unfortunately, 80 percent of state representatives in Utah are Mormon and will almost always do whatever their church thinks is best. Stephen Urquhart's bill died on the table.

All of these things can be summed up in one word, hate. Even though many states who write such bills will call them "religious freedom" or "religious preservation acts," the fact of the matter is that these people still want to openly hate a certain demographic, and not just hate them, but hate them in public with the law on their side. There is no law that says you can't personally hate the LGBTQ community on your own time when you're alone (but if you do, you're a dick). You can be a hate filled monster all you want, but don't treat us like a bunch of idiots and say you're doing it in the name of religious freedom. I used to be Mormon myself and it's been a while since I went to church or read the bible, but I'm positive that at no point did Jesus say, "And if you see a queer make sure you beat the shit out of them and call them slurs!" But it's been a while so maybe that's in there somewhere.

And really, would it be so bad to provide service to a customer whose lifestyle you disagree with? I have worked many minimum wage customer service jobs where I had to deal with all sorts terrible butt-holes, probably the kind who believe in these nonsense religious freedom bills, but at no point did I try to think of a religious reason to refuse service to this walking, talking anus. No, I did my god damn job.

Plus, how would this work? How would you know if someone coming into your restaurant was homosexual or transgender? Does your hostess have to ask everyone who comes in? When you're looking for employees, does your application have boxes asking about your sexuality and gender at birth? Or can you just freely discriminate against anyone that you even suspect might fit somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum?

Maybe those articles I linked to had the answers, but I was too disgusted to read them to the bottom. North Carolina, Georgia, Utah, your state lawmakers are monsters.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

3273
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

449716
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21794
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44773
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments