Thursday, April 02, 2015

Lgbts win round one on 'religious freedom' bills but don't celebrate just yet

All anti-gay lies come down to this.

According to Mediaite:


Lawmakers in both Indiana and Arkansas today passed fixes to their respective religious freedom bills. Indiana, of course, is the state where this entire controversy burst forth from, after celebrities and CEOs expressed their issues with the law over potential discrimination of gays and lesbians by business owners.

Today the Indiana legislature passed clarifying language that includes this new passage. Meanwhile, in Arkansas, they had passed their own religious freedom bill, but Governor Asa Hutchinson sent it back and said he wants to see changes to it that align more with federal law on the matter. The Arkansas legislature passed the qualifying language this afternoon, and as of this posting, Hutchinson has signed the bill into law.

The article goes on to say that Pence will do the same with his bill, no doubt sending conservatives and the anti-gay right in an apoplectic mood. (Editor's note - Pence just signed the bill.)

However, don't even think of celebrating or high-fiving each other. This is only the first shot in what will probably be a long war punctuated by talking points, anecdotes, think-tank jargon, and the constant, constant repetition of lies.

If the Supreme Court rules for marriage equality later this year, expect things to go into overdrive. And I would sincerely hope that my lgbt brothers and sisters and our allies are going to be as engaged then as we were this week.

Because you just know the other side will be.

Even as I write this, I can imagine the Family Research Council, the National Organization for Marriage, the Heritage Foundation, and their friends at Fox News such as Todd Starnes and others (Bryan Fischer, Erik Erikson, etc)  planning their next salvo. Or practicing the new horror story they will tell gullible folks about the so-called war on Christianity.

It's not like this hasn't been done before.

'Anti-gay activists furious at Dan Savage' & other Thursday midday news briefs



Pat Robertson has never been one for sanity, but I think this comment tops all he has ever said (excluding the AIDS rings) 

Anti-Gay Activists Furious People Joined Dan Savage's 'It Gets Better' Campaign Against Bullying - Dan Savage is constantly getting the religious right angry at him. Darn, I'm jealous! 

 LGBT Protections Included In Fix For Indiana's 'Religious Freedom' Law - Partial good news. I say partial cause I don't trust these folks. Although I hear that anti-gay organization in Indiana is going absolutely apoplectic. 

 Arkansas Legislators Amend Controversial Religious Freedom Bill - Okay what exactly did THAT STATE do?  

CNN Debunks 'God Versus Gays' Narrative In Coverage Of Indiana's "Religious Freedom" Law - It's about time someone in the media did their jobs. 

Senator Says Critics Of Indiana Should Get ‘Perspective,’ Be Thankful State Doesn’t Execute Gays - Oh do shut up, Tom Cotton.

Anti-gay spokesmen throw furious tantrums over losses in Arkansas, Indiana

Just how can the lgbt community sufficiently enjoy victories over the Indiana and Arkansas anti-gay "religious liberty" bills without taking note of the flailing huffing and puffing by members of the religious right.

First on deck, Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association:



There is Mike Haggee:



Last but not least, Pat Robertson from The 700 Club who wins the booby prize:



Abd they wonder why they lose. ;