Stepping Backwards
Am I Surprised? Am I shocked when the Supreme Court sided with the baker?
Today a baker stands behind his religious beliefs as a perfectly acceptable reason to refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple. A florist awaits his turn to recline in the arms of religion as a basis for refusing to supply flowers for a gay wedding.
Many years ago I moved from Maryland to the Boston area. When looking for a place to live I mentioned a number of towns to the real estate agent. When I named one particular place he said, “You can’t buy anything in that town. They don’t sell to Jews or blacks.” Of course. It didn’t come as a shock.
Saturday I attended a graduation party for a young man who recently graduated high school. Not unusual for this time of year. His foster parents are lesbians. He’s a different race than his two foster moms. Guests at the party included straight neighbors, transgendered married people, gay and lesbian couples— some married, some partners. Several babies, one pregnant lesbian. Someone’s mother and sister.The food platters resembled — food platters.
No one asked —who was going to be eating all that food. No one said I can’t arrange a platter of cold cuts, tubs of potato salad, a plate of cut veggies because I don’t approve of you two being foster parents.
I don’t understand. But I know that once a crack opens for discrimination some folks will attempt to push that crack until its open so wide that it will be hard to turn back.
Today a baker stands behind his religious beliefs as a perfectly acceptable reason to refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple. A florist awaits his turn to recline in the arms of religion as a basis for refusing to supply flowers for a gay wedding.
Many years ago I moved from Maryland to the Boston area. When looking for a place to live I mentioned a number of towns to the real estate agent. When I named one particular place he said, “You can’t buy anything in that town. They don’t sell to Jews or blacks.” Of course. It didn’t come as a shock.
Saturday I attended a graduation party for a young man who recently graduated high school. Not unusual for this time of year. His foster parents are lesbians. He’s a different race than his two foster moms. Guests at the party included straight neighbors, transgendered married people, gay and lesbian couples— some married, some partners. Several babies, one pregnant lesbian. Someone’s mother and sister.The food platters resembled — food platters.
No one asked —who was going to be eating all that food. No one said I can’t arrange a platter of cold cuts, tubs of potato salad, a plate of cut veggies because I don’t approve of you two being foster parents.
I don’t understand. But I know that once a crack opens for discrimination some folks will attempt to push that crack until its open so wide that it will be hard to turn back.
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