UPDATE: Mark and Todd Wathen's Discrimination Complaints Can Proceed

Way back in February, I posted a story about Mark and Todd Wathen who live in Illinois and wanted to have a Civil Union ceremony and party [The Illinois civil union law went into effect June 1] and met almost instantly with bigotry and homophobia from two venues who didn't want any gay ceremonies or parties on their property. See original post HERE.

Mark and Todd Wathen filed complaints against two Illinois inns--the Beall Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and the TimberCreek Bed and Breakfast--that refused to allow the couple to have a civil union ceremony and party on their premises. You know, cuz they're gay and all. The Wathens say that the owners of the B&Bs specifically did not want to host a same-sex union ceremony, something owners of both venues deny.

Mark and Todd ended up having their Civil Union ceremony in their backyard in June.


And this week, the Illinois Department of Human Rights announced that it found “substantial evidence” of discrimination against the couple, a finding that is not a final ruling but means the men can have their complaints heard by an arbitrator, a circuit court judge, or the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Todd and Mark Wathen said they would discuss their next steps with their attorney. “We felt we were right in doing what we did,” Todd said, “We are pleased by the fact that someone agrees with us.”

As am I. Look, it's simple, if you operate a public business you must serve the public. Denying service to a gay person or couple is no different than denying services to a black couple, a Muslim couple, an interracial couple, or even a couple with really bad hair.

Discrimination is discrimination. And, um, yeah, it's illegal, folks.

source

Just a Thought: People Who Use God For Hate

I saw this on something called the Catholic News Agency--all the new that's fit for hate, I'm guessing. It's the story of how people in Colorado are using god as a weapon of hate, and smiling while they do so.

It seems that Colorado Catholics, and others in a coalition of hate, opposed to a civil unions bill, gathered on the steps of the Colorado statehouse to pray to god to stop gay people from being allowed, not to marry, but to civilly unite.

Wow.

All the things wrong with the world--not to mention all the things wrong with the Catholic church....pedophiles--and these people want to pray to god--and before anyone gets wingnutty, I mean the little g--not to feed the poor, or heal the sick, or cure the dying, or save the planet, or help Japan, or stop the wars, but to keep Colorado lawmakers from enacting civil union legislation.

This is how they think god works?

Their god wants to keep gay men and women from being open and honest and out about their love for one another. Their god wants to keep gay men and women who fall in love from expressing that love? Their god doesn't believe in love?

No, for those "good"Christians, god says that marriage is between one man and one woman, or some version of that since it's changed dramatically since mortal men wrote the Bible, and then edited it down to what they wanted it to say, and called it the word of god.

I wonder why they think god has the time to waste on this nonsense. Why is their god a god who seeks to keep people who love one another, one of the greatest things we can ever do for each other, from being united in that love and that commitment?

I wonder why they think their god wants to waste her time this way.

See, what some lawmakers, and a great many people, in Colorado, want is quite simple. The legislation simply grants gay men and women the same legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities that are granted under the law to spouses. Not moral benefits, because morality is an individual thing; you cannot, or at least should try not to, legislate morality.

But these folks want their god to do some wild and crazy things; like keep gay couples from leaving their own property to their partner or loved ones, or anyone of their choosing; they use their god to keep gay couples from adding their partner, their spouse, their loved ones, to their insurance; they ask their god to keep gay people from visiting their partners in the hospitals, even in the cases of one partner dying.

They ask their god to hate gay people.

And then they smile about it.

If that's what they believe their god is up to, then they can have it.

The god, or being, or entity, that I believe in, is simply love. And she doesn't care whom you love, just that you love, and be loved in return. She isn't marching on state capitals trying to impose her iron will on others who believe differently. She isn't trying to legislate hate. She isn't working overtime to keep people who love one another apart.

She has better things to worry about.

And so should you.

And the folks who question the existence of a god, or being or entity, or deny the existence of a god, being, or entity, only want that same thing. To have us all treated equally.

Such a novel concept.

Now, to make matters worse, and to give these people who use god as a weapon of hate feel a tiny bit better in their cold stone hearts, the Colorado civil union bill was killed by a House committee.

And, before you get your rosary beads in a twist, it wasn't god who did this. It was Republicans. And if you think Republicans are god-like, or Christ-like, think again.

It's simple bigotry and intolerance and fear.

Not god.  She wouldn't do this to anyone.

source

Indiana Is For Discrimination

Oh Indiana, in a few years you'll have egg on your face--big gay egg--and be the laughingstock of the entire world.

See, the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 this week to pass a resolution amending Indiana’s Constitution to ban gay marriage. The resolution now goes to the full Senate, where it has passed five times in the past. And if the resolution passes the Senate again, no other action is necessary this session because it already passed the House. The General Assembly would need to approve the measure again in 2013 or 2014 before reaching a statewide ballot for Hoosiers to make the final decision in 2014.

Hopefully the citizens of Indiana won't be as ignorant as their legislators, and understand that discrimination, written into their state Constitution, is a huge mistake.

And, maybe they'll also realize that this resolution, voted strictly along party lines, also falls under the category of overkill since Indiana state law already limits marriage to between one man and one woman. But, you know, bigots and haters, and people who are afraid of The Gays, want definite discrimination written into the state Constitution so judges can’t overturn the law in the future. 

In the future, asshats, you'll be laughed at for being so backwards and hateful and bigoted.
And the way they are wording their hatred--“only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized”--also effectively bans the idea of recognizing civil unions.

Wow.
Hatred.
In the Constitution,
Welcome to Indiana, unless you're gay.

source

Reverend Welcomes The Chance To Bless Same-Sex Unions

Wesley United

After being in existence for 150 years, Wesley United Methodist Church closed in 2008 due to a steep decline in membership. It was one of the first megachurches in the Twin Cities, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Then, in 2010, representatives with Minnesota's United Methodist Annual Conference expressed "considerable concern" over the cost of the building's upkeep, says Reverend Greg Renstrom, but Methodist leaders agreed with him that the building, and the congregation deserved a second chance. Renstrom said that Wesley was suited to welcome the gay community in the nearby Loring Park area.

Reverend Greg Renstrom

So, the Reverend Greg Renstrom came out of retirement at age 64 to lead the congregation; he agreed to a yearly salary of one dollar. And Reverend Renstrom has more plans for Wesley, plans that could get him defrocked.

He plans to bless same-sex unions.

Renstrom wants to hold ceremonies to bless same-sex unions, even though they would be in conflict with Methodist policy, because, as he says, "[s]omebody has to do it. I cannot imagine that Jesus would ever refuse to bless a responsible, mutually respectful and reverent relationship."

Renstrom sees the change as a key part of Wesley's revival, and growth, as a Methodist church. Many in the Minneapolis-St Paul's large gay community are coming to Wesley for Sunday services.

To get the word out to the gay community, Renstrom placed ads in Lavender magazine and church representatives recently attended a GLBT wedding show in Bloomington. Renstrom said that, although he hasn't blessed any same-sex unions yet, he plans on doing so, even though he has no idea how the church officials will react. He admits that some people will be "madder than the dickens," but he believes the move is worth the censure that may arise.

"I have so many friends who are gay and lesbian," Renstrom said. "I've seen the absolute anguish they've been placed in because of the refusal of most churches to bless what is a basic relationship. I see this as something we will try to provide in our small way."

And he knows, that although gay people deserve the same rights in and out of the church, that his plans could lead to him being removed from his position and defrocked.

But he's going to do it anyway.

source

Wyoming Fails Add Discrimination To Their Constitution

It looks like the latest winter storm dumped more than snow on Wyoming it also dropped in a little common sense.

That proposed amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would specify the state not recognize same-sex marriages performed anywhere else on the entire planet died last week when it missed a procedural deadline in the state Legislature.


House Majority Floor Leader, Republican Tom Lubnau, said he didn't want to spend hours of floor time debating a bill that didn't have the votes to pass. Um, yeah, sounds nice, Tom, but why not say that you don't want to debate a bill that adds discrimination to the state Constitution?

However, there is still another bill pending that would change Wyoming law to specify that the state would only recognize marriages between one man and one woman. See, currently, Wyoming law specifies marriage is only between a man and a woman, but it also says that Wyoming will recognize valid marriages performed in other states.

Proponents of the both marriage bills have said Wyoming needs to clarify its law now that same-sex marriages are being performed in other states, because, you know, they don't want Iowa homo couples, or Massachusetts homo couples, or Canadian homo couples, coming to their state. 

I mean, how would that look?

source