America can now make the claim that we are officially innovators of time travel. Kansas can testify to it. We went from 2014 to 1896, where Plessy v. Ferguson explicitly upheld state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities.
According to CNN, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill allowing the refusal of service to same-sex couples on Feb. 12.
House Bill 2453 overtly states that “no individual or religious entity shall be required by any governmental entity to do any of the following, if it would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of the individual or religious entity regarding sex or gender …”
Essentially, businesses will have the right to refuse services and accommodations to homosexual and lesbian couples. Legally, united couples’ arrangements do not have the right to be treated as valid.
This sounds like discrimination to me. Article two of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clarifies that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth. Under no circumstance shall anyone be turned away because of his or her sexual preference.
This bill is unethical and unfair. Kansas is doing what Americans fought against in support of African-Americans to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The bill was written in the format to support the religious perspective. It is implying that religious individuals and religious organizations are allowed to refuse service and try to provide another employee to provide that particular service. In the event that no one chooses to be of assistance, the employees will have to clarify that the service is provided by the business, but they won’t be able to provide it due to the “hardship” it may have on the employer.
“Passing this bill reflects the genuine concern for all citizens without biasness,” said Antorris Williams, a community activist in Tallahassee. “Supporting this bill reflects exactly how businesses are rooted in the ever-changing principles and virtues of mainstream America.”
Dawn Maye, a senior music management student at Georgia Tech from Fort Lauderdale, doesn’t agree with the bill.
“I think it’s sad how the world is finding other ways to bring back segregation and inequality between human beings,” Maye said. “Everybody should be treated equally.”
I’m ecstatic that I do not live in Kansas because the phrase, “Sorry, I won’t be able to assist you,” will be unacceptable to me. I wouldn’t support a business that doesn’t appreciate my loyalty as a customer.
Perhaps there may be a boycott in Kansas soon if a business decides to use the bill as a crutch for discrimination.