Posted on 08/15/2013 7:38:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In San Antonio, where the mayor is rising Democratic star Julian Castro, a broad new anti-discrimination ordinance under consideration may catch opponents of same-sex marriage in its net, in what opponents consider a disturbing infringement on liberty of conscience.
The ordinance would prohibit bias toward people on account of sexual orientation. Opponents are concerned that opposition to same-sex marriage or other viewpoints about homosexuality would be considered bias.
“If you, for instance, oppose same-sex marriage, that’s going to be interpreted as opposing someone based on sexual orientation,” explains Jeff Mateer, general counsel for the Liberty Institute, an organization that focuses on religious liberty.
“So if the church that you attend teaches that homosexuality is a sin,” he adds, “and you believe in that in word or deed, and you speak out against that, you’re going to be disqualified from serving or contracting with the city of San Antonio.”
Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, is similarly concerned. “Is expressing opposition to same-sex marriage a form of bias based on sexual orientation? Some people would argue that it is,” he says, despite the fact that “the Texas constitution forbids same-sex marriage.”
If the ordinance passes, the city cannot contract with any business whose owner is deemed biased. Nor can city-council members or appointed public officials speak in their official capacity in a way that suggests bias, according to the Liberty Institute.
While the ordinance’s author, Councilman Diego Bernal, has revised the language in response to concerns about religious freedom, conservative groups say the revisions are not enough. Bernal did not respond to a request for comment.
“The last draft that we saw, which was a couple days ago, still contains the language about contracting,” Mateer remarks. And that’s not the only language he finds worrisome: “What it now says is you can’t have acted in word or deed in your official capacity.”
“It’s basically saying it’s okay to hold that belief outside,” he adds, “but if you are a city-council member, you can wear your hat at church, and at church, you can be for traditional marriage, but once you step into the realm of governing, you’re no longer to hold that belief.”
Sprigg, who says the last draft he saw was from last week, thinks the ordinance could negatively affect the businesses of those who don’t support same-sex marriage.
“It would basically bar Christian-owned businesses or any business that chooses not to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their own equal-opportunity policies,” he says, “from ever entering into a contract with the city of San Antonio.”
“It uses this coercion against private companies through the contracting process of the city,” Sprigg explains.
However, one notable critic of the ordinance no longer opposes it. Pastor John Hagee, who heads a megachurch in San Antonio, talked to media outlets earlier this month about his opposition to the ordinance. But this Sunday, he announced that, owing to the revised language, he would no longer work against the ordinance, although he didn’t go so far as to endorse it. “All of the previous language that infringed upon the freedom of speech, the freedom of exercise of religion, and the ability for people of faith to serve on city council has been expunged,” Hagee told churchgoers.
Looking at the broader picture, Sprigg argues it’s inappropriate for government to treat “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as worthy of the same protections given to “race” and “gender.”
“Most civil-rights legislation,” Sprigg explains, “protects against discrimination based on characteristics that are inborn; involuntary, meaning you can’t choose them; immutable, meaning you can’t change them; innocuous, meaning they don’t harm anything or anyone; and/or in the Constitution. All five of those would apply to something like race or sex.”
“None of them,” he argues, “would apply to the choice to engage in homosexual conduct or the choice to present oneself as the opposite of one’s biological sex.”
— Katrina Trinko is an NRO reporter.
Mayor Castro.
Fascism coming home to roost.
What is wrong with someone based on sexual orientation?
Are Americans supposed to accept every perversion which the international peddlers of perversion will wedge into “normal” society? “Gay” marriage will not be the end of their efforts. Coming next will be polygamy or lowering the age of consent. Will Americans of conscience be told to not “oppose” those as well?
How they hell can the outlaw bias against a behavior? Especially a self-destructive behavior?
Christian businesses will need yellow crosses on them so that the Tolerance Police will know which windows to break.
In TX, no doubt. All I know Someone should tell this libtard Dem mayor that my first amendment rights trumps your fascist ordinance every time.
Easy to fix. Add bias against white people to it.
MLK would say it’s time for civil disobediance.
“Go ahead, mutherf#ckers—try to arrest us ALL!!” All two million of us. (Probably more)
Julian Castro is living up to his surname.
Oh, no, no, no.
This socialist is a darling of the media and dem party
He did some speech, I think the dem pres convention last year. Very charismatic. Hitlerian.
This guy’s town is ready to turn as soon as amnesty goes through and texas will follow. (Blue State)
Be Ware!
Even in Texas, we have pockets of democrats pushing their perverted agenda on us. Democrats have an iron grip on San Antonio. The county in which San Antonio resides is Bexar county. Bexar county is 50/50 and is a good predictor of national elections. Once I sell my house, I am moving away from Bexar County. I am tired of high real estate taxes and don’t want live in a county that gyrates politically. Also, I will get away from all these attempts to limit free speech and to normalize deviant behavior.
Thanks for the info. I plan to move there eventually but need info on places to avoid.
Single fathers in these locations should file to marry their sons. Surely there is no requirement of sexual interaction for these proposed marriages. Mo marriage mockery
Stay to the north of town. Comal, Kendall, Bandera, Guadelupe and Medina Counties (most of it) are good. Many places in Bexar County (San Antonio is basically annexing all of Bexar County) are good places to live. However, real estate taxes are more in Bexar County than in neighboring counties. Democrats and their dependent groups are also also more numerous in Bexar. Hill country is the place to be if you can afford it and don’t mind the commute. I love Texas, but we have morons here just like in other places doing their best to mess things up.
Thought Police....coming to your city soon.
The REVOLUTION cannot start soon enough.
In San Antonio, where the mayor is rising Democratic star Julian Castro, a broad new anti-discrimination ordinance under consideration... would prohibit bias toward people on account of sexual orientation... "If you, for instance, oppose same-sex marriage, that's going to be interpreted as opposing someone based on sexual orientation," explains Jeff Mateer, general counsel for the Liberty Institute, an organization that focuses on religious liberty.
I see a lot of folks forgetting the Alamo if this becomes law.
Don't laugh. That's coming down the pike.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.