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‘Bias’ Against Same-Sex Marriage? A proposed law in San Antonio would set a troubling precedent
National Review ^ | 08/14/2013 | Katrina Trinko

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: corruption; democrats; diegobernal; gaymarriage; genderidentity; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; jeffmateer; juliancastro; katrinatrinko; liberalfascism; libertyinstitute; moralabsolutes; pastorjohnhagee; petersprigg; samesexmarriage; sanantonio; sexualorientation; texas
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1 posted on 08/15/2013 7:38:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Mayor Castro.


2 posted on 08/15/2013 7:42:20 AM PDT by stanne
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To: SeekAndFind

Fascism coming home to roost.


3 posted on 08/15/2013 7:43:56 AM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: SeekAndFind

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?


4 posted on 08/15/2013 7:45:05 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: SeekAndFind

How they hell can the outlaw bias against a behavior? Especially a self-destructive behavior?


5 posted on 08/15/2013 7:47:09 AM PDT by Little Ray (How did I end up in this hand-basket, and why is it getting so hot?)
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To: fwdude

Christian businesses will need yellow crosses on them so that the Tolerance Police will know which windows to break.


6 posted on 08/15/2013 7:47:26 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: stanne

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.


7 posted on 08/15/2013 7:47:34 AM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company after the election, & laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: SeekAndFind

Easy to fix. Add bias against white people to it.


8 posted on 08/15/2013 7:50:39 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Obama: What did I not know and when did I not know it?)
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To: SeekAndFind

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)


9 posted on 08/15/2013 7:51:19 AM PDT by Flintlock ("The redcoats are coming" -- TO SEIZE OUR GUNS!!--Paul Revere)
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To: max americana

Julian Castro is living up to his surname.


10 posted on 08/15/2013 7:56:22 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: max americana

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!


11 posted on 08/15/2013 7:59:51 AM PDT by stanne
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To: max americana

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.


12 posted on 08/15/2013 8:00:33 AM PDT by 3Fingas (Sons and Daughters of Freedom, Committee of Correspondence)
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To: 3Fingas

Thanks for the info. I plan to move there eventually but need info on places to avoid.


13 posted on 08/15/2013 8:17:38 AM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company after the election, & laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: SeekAndFind

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


14 posted on 08/15/2013 8:38:32 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (A half-truth is a complete lie)
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To: max americana

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.


15 posted on 08/15/2013 8:42:17 AM PDT by 3Fingas (Sons and Daughters of Freedom, Committee of Correspondence)
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To: stanne
"This guy’s town is ready to turn as soon as amnesty goes through and texas will follow. (Blue State)"

Ya', well that's been predicted many times before. The last time it was tried was around 1846. We ended up gaining an additional chunk taken out of Mexico down to the Rio Grande instead.

" The man that once did sell the lion's skin
While the beast lived,
was killed with hunting him.”

- William Shakespeare “Henry V” Act 4, Sc. 3
16 posted on 08/15/2013 9:23:32 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: SeekAndFind

Thought Police....coming to your city soon.

The REVOLUTION cannot start soon enough.


17 posted on 08/15/2013 9:42:10 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

Thanks SeekAndFind.
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.

18 posted on 08/15/2013 12:35:45 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's no coincidence that some "conservatives" echo the hard left.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I see a lot of folks forgetting the Alamo if this becomes law.


19 posted on 08/15/2013 1:38:15 PM PDT by Berosus (I wish I had as much faith in God as liberals have in government.)
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To: massgopguy
Christian businesses will need yellow crosses on them so that the Tolerance Police will know which windows to break.

Don't laugh. That's coming down the pike.

20 posted on 08/15/2013 1:40:43 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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