Yesterday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced that he will veto HB 757, a bill passed by the Georgia state legislature last week regarding what its proponents define as “religious freedom.” HB 757, as it was passed in the Georgia senate about a week ago, aims to “protect faith-based groups that refuse to serve or hire someone for religious reasons,” according to a CBS News report from March 24. The bill has been in the media for two years now, attracting both vocal support and opposition. Supporters have particularly cited the federal developments in same-sex marriage over recent years, while opponents claim that the bill legalizes discrimination. I commend governor Deal’s intent to veto the bill and urge other governors facing bills such as HB 757 in the future to do the same.
The bill’s primary goal is to ensure that churches and pastors do not have to perform same-sex marriages if they do not want to and that faith-based organizations do not have to host events they find morally questionable. These stipulations, however, are already legally protected under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, among others. The real reason for the bill lies in its allowing the hiring or firing of people based on their sexual orientation, which fundamentally denies equal opportunity and access to millions of Americans.
When citing “deeply held religious beliefs,” supporters of HB 757 are clearly referring to Christianity. In this way, HB 757 would make Christian beliefs paramount to the right to equal opportunity. However, as I argued in my Jan. 6 editorial, “Good Without God,” religious freedom does not condone — and, in fact, contradicts — such a normalization of any one religion in society. Religious freedom follows a “do no harm” policy: you should be free to practice your own religion so long as it does not impede that same right or any other rights for anyone else.
Furthermore, allowing discrimination based on deeply held religious beliefs is a slippery slope. What if my religion finds heterosexual marriage immoral? Or showing too much — or too little — skin? It is unlikely that supporters of HB 757 would accept being barred from employment or banned from using certain venues simply for being heterosexual or Christian. Denying these rights to same-sex couples is no different. Sexuality is a state of being, reflecting fundamental facets of one’s unshakable and natural identity. In other words, it is not a choice, and it certainly should not be used as a basis for discrimination.
J. Robert White, the executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, argues that, “It is wrong to accuse persons of discrimination who live and conduct their businesses according to their deeply held religious beliefs.” Using “deeply held religious beliefs” as a justification for refusing to offer services or to hire an individual, however, is exactly that. As members of a free society, we should all have equal opportunity and access to the fruits of that society. While supporters of HB 757 and similar legislation argue that anti-discrimination legislation actually discriminates against employers by preventing them from hiring or retaining employees on the basis of sexual orientation and religion, such logic is a fallacy; freedom of choice means the freedom to choose for ourselves — not for others.
Legislation barring discrimination against people based on race, sex, gender and sexuality does not force anyone to change their convictions in their own life. Instead, it only prevents people from harming other’s lives and opportunities by forcing those convictions on others. If something is against one’s religious beliefs, then they have the choice to refrain from supporting businesses that endorse or exhibit that behavior or belief. It does not work both ways, however — you can make that choice for yourself, but you cannot deny the choice of others to patronize certain businesses or organizations. The former is religious freedom; the latter, religious tyranny.
Finally, I grew up Christian. I have been to years and years of Sunday school and sermons, masses and services across various denominations. All four Gospels, the books of Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, Psalms, 1 Thessalonians and so many more all emphasize one core point — love others, including strangers and sinners, friends and enemies and everyone in between no matter what. Using my personal interpretation of the Bible and the teachings I have learned throughout my life, I sincerely doubt that Christ would condone turning people away from one’s business because of their identity. In the wake of Easter Sunday, any supporter of HB 757 and similar bills should look back to their elementary Sunday school classes and remember to ask themselves one question — what would Jesus do?
