Religious freedom advocates are divided over how to address LGBT rights

[rug]

Supporters of gay marriage wave the rainbow flag after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 2015, that the U.S. Constitution provides same-sex couples the right to marry. The court ruled 5-4 that the Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law mean that states cannot ban same-sex marriages. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Joshua Roberts

By Kelsey Dallas | 9 hours ago

Major players in the ongoing battle over religious freedom and LGBT rights will meet at Yale University this weekend to discuss conscience rights, LGBT protections and legislation needed to balance those competing interests.

Faith leaders and LGBT activists attending the event aren’t the only ones in search of consensus since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage a year and a half ago.

The meeting is a response to in-fighting within the community of scholars, lawyers and policymakers who once worked together as religious freedom advocates.

“We all think … the view that nondiscrimination protections must crowd out every other value is wrong, but we have different visions of the right,” said Robin Fretwell Wilson, director of the family law and policy program at the University of Illinois College of Law and one of the meeting’s organizers.

http://religionnews.com/2017/01/13/religious-freedom-advocates-are-divided-over-how-to-address-lgbt-rights/

[msongs]

1. it's simple: your religion only applies to yourself. end of discussion nt

[RKP5637]

2. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

3. The proper balance was struck over 50 years ago now, if you run a business...

of public accommodation that's open to the public and/or for profit, then "Conscience rights" exceptions don't apply to you.

If you want to have an exclusive club, that's fine, call it a church, call it a club, who gives a shit, anything more than that and you have to play by society's rules.

[okasha]

4. Easy test.

Does the law allow a business to refuse service to a customer because of the customer's race.

No.

Same legal standard must apply to sexual orientation and gender identity.

[guillaumeb]

5. 1,2, & 4 are all excellent answers.

Personal beliefs should affect only personal behavior.