Hatred in disguise
4/2/2015, 10:13 p.m.
Shame on the governors and legislatures of Indiana and Arkansas for supporting their states’ so-called “religious freedom” bills that essentially would allow business owners to refuse to serve people they dislike.
Members of the gay and lesbian community — and people of conscience — have loudly fought against these measures as vehicles to legally discriminate against gay couples and individuals.
Yet, these measures would allow businesses to refuse service to anyone — African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Muslims or whomever — on purported religious grounds.
Sound familiar?
Yes, we went through this in Virginia and the South for decades before federal laws banned the overt discrimination that prevented black people from being served in restaurants, at hotels and department stores for decades.
These bills are little more than bigotry wrapped in piety. And we know who else has used religion to cloak hatred — the Nazis and the KKK.
We also haven’t forgotten that the Klan started in Indiana.
To their credit, major companies, sports organizations, noted business leaders and civil rights groups have threatened to boycott both states unless the laws are changed.
The economic impact alone may propel lawmakers in those states to do the right thing.
No amendments can make either measure palatable.
These bills must go.
