Ohio has seen the light folks.
I don't believe that line of bullshit a bit, but the Buckeye state's version of Arizona's noxious "religious freedom" bill has been pulled, according to the WKYC via the AP:
State lawmakers in Ohio are withdrawing legislation that mirrors an Arizona "religious freedom" bill that has come under fire for protecting those who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays.
Republican state Rep. Tim Derickson and Democratic state Rep. Bill Patmon issued a joint statement Wednesday citing concern over the bill's unintended consequences.
The pair said the bill they introduced in December was intended to protect the ability of Ohioans to freely worship and exercise their religious beliefs, not to promote discrimination.
For me, it's not enough. Go over the squiggly and I'll tell you why.
I debate some people of color (usually religious) for the willingness to discriminate against LGBT people regularly.
Why?
Because from where I sit, people of color (and yes, I am one) haven't learned a damn thing from history.
Preaching hate (and make no mistake, that's what it is) regarding gays from the pulpit still happens in African American churches, the institution that railed with ferocity against slavery, segregation and for civil rights.
Yet after 400 years or more of dealing with that bullshit, some condone the treatment of LGBT individuals in our society? Are you kidding me.
After learning that State Rep. Bill Patmon, a former member of Cleveland City Council and a Democrat was a co-sponsor, I fired off this letter to him:
Rep. Patmon:
As a person of color I have never been more disappointed in an elected representative who is of the same background as I am.
Your sponsorship of the "Religious Freedom Bill" A.K.A license to discriminate is reprehensible. Are you seriously suggesting that you didn't realize it would be used by some conservative Christians to discriminate?
I don't buy that for a second.
I don't know if you're a man of faith Mr. Patmon, but if you are and are active in your church, you suffer from the same character flaws that have kept me out of Cleveland area African-American places of worship all my life - you conveniently forget history.
Africans didn't arrive here as Christians. And we spent 400 years of enduring de facto racism, segregation and basic indignities by our alleged fellow "humans."
Sound familiar? It should.
Like most African Americans who express their disapproval and shaming of the LGBT community you suffer from selective memory. In your ignorance you show that you are not fit to hold political office and when the time comes for your re-election, I will actively work against you.