Posted on 07/27/2012 11:40:26 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Although the ACLU strongly supports same-sex marriage, a senior attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois warned that if Chicago bans Chick-fil-A over the religious views of its management, it will be engaging in "viewpoint discrimination," Fox News reported Thursday.
“The government can regulate discrimination in employment or against customers, but what the government cannot do is to punish someone for their words,” said ACLU senior attorney Adam Schwartz.
“When an alderman refuses to allow a business to open because its owner has expressed a viewpoint the government disagrees with, the government is practicing viewpoint discrimination,” he added.
Chicago Alderman Proco Joe Moreno said he intends to block the chain from opening its second Chicago location over president Dan Cathy's position on gay marriage. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel supports Moreno's position.
Schwartz explained to Fox that "if a government can exclude a business for being against same-sex marriage, it can also exclude a business for being in support of same-sex marriage."
“But we also support the First Amendment,” Schwartz said. “We don’t think the government should exclude Chick-fil-A because of the anti-LGBT message. We believe this is clear cut.”
But Moreno has already said he is not concerned with the First Amendment.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
This is just all sorts of rich irony coming from the ACLU, imo.
Furthermore, in case anyone is contemplating getting all happy about the ACLU, I went over to their site and found this on their blog:
Menino v. Chick-fil-APersonally, I think this whole spat may be good for equal marriage rights in the long run. Did you see that politicians Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee are now trying to rally all homophobes to eat at Chick-fil-A?
I’m thrilled. In fact, I encourage all bigots to load up on transfats and carbohydrates. Go ahead – eat your heart out on the “Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit” breakfast! Mmmm.
Given that polls consistently show that support for equality under the law grows stronger with each new generation of Americans, this might just might be turn out to be a happy meal for defenders of equality after all.
No, the writer is not Julianne Malvaux.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love...
Even though they are occasionally correct, like a stopped clock, I would tell the ACLU where to shove their support.
Good for the ACLU. Right on this one, and deserve much credit.
Strange that I’ve not heard a word about demonstrations and confrontations with the Mosques of Boston and Chicago on muslim views on gay marriage.
I’ve googled and googled and find nothing from either mayor on the unacceptable views of Islam regarding gay marriage.
I’m sure they’ll stop issuing building permits for new construction of mosques soon.
the Chick Filet man was a person..stating his own opinion..plenty of people dont believe in gay marriage..I for one just think its all for politics. civil union gives them the legal rights they are wanting..
I tried to have lunch at Chik-fil-a today. The place was, simply, too packed to get in the door. Had to weave my way between cars that were lined up around the block. And once I got inside, the lobby was too full. I had to find somewhere else to eat.
Looks like this boycott is going to hurt them </sarcasm>
Homofascists like this moron and Mumbles Menino can not even read the US Constitution. Grasping it is inconceivable for these assholes.
Our place was really crowded too.
Yep, that is a difference between their ‘corporations have no speech rights’ and this situation.
Try this one.
Libs believe that free speech only applies to speech that they consider civilized, which they define as opinions that agree with them.
So when Dems talk about an ‘open discussion’ or ‘honest debate’ they mean like on the Sharpton show where they all agree with each other.
I don’t care about any of this stuff.
Where does Chick-fil-A stand on declawing cats???
Having a pro-marriage “view” is a 1st Amendment right. Turning someone away at the Chick-Fill-A counter and not letting them ‘Eat-More-Chicken’ because they prefer to sleep with the opposite sex OR express that point of view, is an act of “discrimination”.
It is all acedemic anyway, as Chick Fil A is making record profits from this fiasco : )
” LOL, now I don’t care who ya are, that’s FUNNY!”
Yeah, that worked : )
“Looking at the picture #4 posted “.... Lit up my Gaydar like a Christmas tree.
Yep: Mine too. Knocked the needle clear off the pin.
just how many generations of buttpluggers does it take to extinct a species, if queerdom isnt a choice, but entirely biological ???
of course, that makes me an intolerant hater i reckon...
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