* Small business leaders. If an employee refuses to provide services to gay people does the business owner need to have extra employees around who will provide the service? Are the employee's beliefs strongly held? Will discriminatory employees be discriminated against by employers as just not worth the nuisance to have around? Let's not get into those games.
* Progressive churches. Led by the Episcopalians, they focused on the commandment to love one another.
While the Kansas discrimination bill was still in play, Jim Brock of The Rolla Daily News in Missouri wrote an opinion piece to say he didn't think it was very Christian. He bases his belief in Matthew 25:40-45 in which Jesus chastises some of his listeners for not coming to the aid of those in need. Brock concludes by saying:
The holy words of the Bible can be so inconvenient, especially when they don't come from Exodus or Leviticus.
Maine voted down a similar law. Arizona approved another. Dan Savage notes that the one in Arizona is so broadly written that it would permit Satanists to discriminate against Christians. The only ones who would not have permission to discriminate are atheists.
Yes, it is a concerted effort to bring these kinds of bills before any state legislature that offers a glimmer of interest. The effort is pushed by CitizenLink of Focus On the Family and the American Religious Freedom Program of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
Jon Stewart needs only a couple minutes to skewer the no wedding cakes for gays bills.
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