U.S. Senate Approves Anti-Discrimination Bill Endorsed by Tim Cook

[r.harris1]

Considering homosexual activities morally reprehensible isn't either hateful or bigoted.

I didn't say gays were afflicted with same sex attraction. I don't agree with identifying anyone based on their sexual preferences. I like to think there is more to a person.

I have sympathy for anyone who is afflicted with same sex attraction.

You might disagree with me, you are entitled to. However disagreeing with me doesn't negate my right to hold the opinions I do.

Bigotry isn't someone holding an opinion you disagree with.

Wow. Luckily bigotry isn't someone holding an opinion you disagree with One thing I do agree with is identifying by sexual preference is silly and that there's more to a person. In fact, I'd go even further and suggest that the least interesting thing about a person is who they sleep with. I also have never understood Christianity's and associated religions' obsession with it and the need to try and control it in others. Seems a waste of energy.

As for the rest, completely disagree. How would you take it if someone said they had sympathy for someone afflicted with religion? Probably not well.

 

[localoid]

Is this an American religious thing? Because my fiancee, her family and those she goes to church with and her vicar are all totally fine with homosexuality and they're all Catholics. Her best friend is gay. Sure there are a few blips here (most recent one appears to be a hotel run by Christians denying a gay couple being denied a room) but it appears to be nice than some countries in acceptance.

(genuine question. Because I see a lot of Americans and folk in the Middle East not liking what individuals do and using religion as a weapon of hate.)

There's a huge difference between how American "branch line" and "mainline" Christian denominations react to issues such as gay rights, gay marriage, etc.

For example, back in July, nearly 40 U.S. faith groups signed a letter of support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), including three "mainline" Christian denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal).

 

[Michael Goff]

It's almost 50/50. I see more hate and sarcasm towards religion in this thread than someone using their religion to discriminate toward gays. In reality. The bottom line. People have the right to not believe in Jesus. Just as people have the right to not believe in gay marriage.

I don't care if you don't want to believe in gay marriage or not. Your beliefs should not shape public policy. NO religious beliefs should shape public policy.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

I don't care if you don't want to believe in gay marriage or not. Your beliefs should not shape public policy. NO religious beliefs should shape public policy.

I wonder how someone can even "not believe" in something that happens every day.

 

[distemp]

I don't care if you don't want to believe in gay marriage or not. Your beliefs should not shape public policy. NO religious beliefs should shape public policy.

I love the use of the term "don't believe in" with regard to gay marriage. As if there's no physical evidence of its existence...like gawd.

 

[elistan]

I wonder how someone can even "not believe" in something that happens every day.

He seems to be using "believe" in the way others would use "support" or "allow." He might as well be saying that "people have the right to not believe in gravity," which, well, yeah, they do I guess, however crazy that is. But they flatly have zero right to draft laws making gravity illegal. Believe gay marriage is wrong, fine. Believe Christianity, Shinto, Buddhism or Hinduism is wrong, fine. But make a law against gay marriage? Or a law against homosexual acts between two consenting adults? Or a law against Christianity? No, not fine.

 

[niuniu]

No more interest in engaging with you.

Of course not, no-one likes being outed.

To say that you don't like gays, well that's pretty low. You didn't do that.

You went further that I could imagine anyone doing.

You called them morally reprehensible

...homosexual activities morally reprehensible

Then you sneered at them

I have sympathy for anyone who is afflicted with same sex attraction.

Bigotry on the most profound level.

 

[Eraserhead]

Well, fairs fair. The Reid has refused to bring the House Budget to a vote 19 TIMES.

I would love to see a source for this.

 

[7709876]

Of course not, no-one likes being outed.

To say that you don't like gays, well that's pretty low. You didn't do that.

You went further that I could imagine anyone doing.

You called them morally reprehensible

Then you sneered at them

Bigotry on the most profound level.

English clearly isn't your first language. Try finding out what bigotry means for a start, then look in a mirror.

----------

YOU JUST DID!!


Saying that I'm "afflicted" with being a homosexual, isn't bigotry, it is ignorant, but not bigotry.

Holding me to a different standard, THAT is bigotry. Which you've expressed, and tried so hard with hiding behind platitudes like "I like to think there is more to a person", but you've made it abundantly clear that as a lesbian, I need to keep my "sex life" behind closed doors. Yet I have to see straight people bragging about their spouses, holding hands, kissing and embracing in public.

I've been fired because someone's religion ruled me a "pervert". I often hear "oh dear, what man hurt you" or "you just haven't found the right guy", yet people like you feel that I should quietly suck it up and hide who I am, so you feel more comfortable.

What kills me the most, these same arguments about morality were used to defend racial discrimination as well as anti-miscegenation laws.

I don't seek to hold anyone to a different standard. I think that having sex with someone of the sex is morally wrong. I would even go further than that - I think it is disgusting. It doesn't matter who does it.

This doesn't mean I hate you or hold any ill feeling towards you.

----------

Wow. Luckily bigotry isn't someone holding an opinion you disagree with One thing I do agree with is identifying by sexual preference is silly and that there's more to a person. In fact, I'd go even further and suggest that the least interesting thing about a person is who they sleep with. I also have never understood Christianity's and associated religions' obsession with it and the need to try and control it in others. Seems a waste of energy.

As for the rest, completely disagree. How would you take it if someone said they had sympathy for someone afflicted with religion? Probably not well.

Christianity isn't obsessed with sex - modern society is.

I hear comments about being afflicted with religion all the time - I have read many of a similar note on this thread. I don't lose sleep over it.

----------

Is this an American religious thing? Because my fiancee, her family and those she goes to church with and her vicar are all totally fine with homosexuality and they're all Catholics. Her best friend is gay. Sure there are a few blips here (most recent one appears to be a hotel run by Christians denying a gay couple being denied a room) but it appears to be nice than some countries in acceptance.

(genuine question. Because I see a lot of Americans and folk in the Middle East not liking what individuals do and using religion as a weapon of hate.)

If they have a vicar then they sound like Anglicans not Catholics.

 

[niuniu]

English clearly isn't your first language. Try finding out what bigotry means for a start, then look in a mirror.

Oh gay people expressing their love for each other..

I think it is disgusting.

Yet you expect people to believe that you don't

..hold any ill feeling towards you.

The only thing disgusting around here is your prejudice and denial.

 

[G51989]

No, don't twist my words.

As an Apple shareholder, I prefer Tim Cook to do his lobbying on his private time and money.

As far as civil liberties and rights goes, as the CEO of Apple, it is more pressing that he focus on improving human rights of the workers assembling the iPhones and iPads in China.

China is not something that is ever likely to change, most of its population will be the neo slaves of the world for a very long time unless there are some big changes in China. Which I hope come at some point.

Also, LGBT acceptance is spreading rapidly in the EU and North America. By Tim cooking personally endorsing this bill and making news over it. It gives Apple a good public image, and very well could sell more Macs and iOS devices.

Tho its not new, pretty much every large technology company has already accepted the whole gay rights things, many of them even provide benefits for same sex couples, lots of them also donate to the LGBT community.

 

[r.harris1]

English clearly isn't your first language. Try finding out what bigotry means for a start, then look in a mirror.

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I don't seek to hold anyone to a different standard. I think that having sex with someone of the sex is morally wrong. I would even go further than that - I think it is disgusting. It doesn't matter who does it.

This doesn't mean I hate you or hold any ill feeling towards you.

----------



Christianity isn't obsessed with sex - modern society is.

I hear comments about being afflicted with religion all the time - I have read many of a similar note on this thread. I don't lose sleep over it.

----------



If they have a vicar then they sound like Anglicans not Catholics.

If there wasn't an obsession with sex and who's sleeping with whom, a large part of this thread wouldn't exist . Who your neighbor consensually sleeps with is not relevant, not interesting and none of your (or your church's) business. Sex within and across genders happens, it always has, always will. If natural behavior is something you find "morally wrong" and "disgusting", I can't do anything about that, and as you say, you are free to believe it, but of course expect to be called on it each and every time.

 

[AppleFan360]

Bigotry on the most profound level.

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

 

[niuniu]

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

I'm not gay.

Now what?

 

[rdowns]

One thing I do agree with is identifying by sexual preference is silly and that there's more to a person.

Of course there is more to gay people that who they sleep with. How else should we identify them as who they sleep with is the only difference between gay and straight people.

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

Clearly another one with no clue about what the issues are. Gay people, while they would like you to not "disapprove of their lifestyle", aren't up in arms over how you feel. They are up in arms over how you use your feeling to deny them rights.

Also, I'm straight.

 

[rdowns]

English clearly isn't your first language. Try finding out what bigotry means for a start, then look in a mirror.

----------



I don't seek to hold anyone to a different standard. I think that having sex with someone of the sex is morally wrong. I would even go further than that - I think it is disgusting. It doesn't matter who does it.

This doesn't mean I hate you or hold any ill feeling towards you.

----------



Christianity isn't obsessed with sex - modern society is.

I hear comments about being afflicted with religion all the time - I have read many of a similar note on this thread. I don't lose sleep over it.

----------



If they have a vicar then they sound like Anglicans not Catholics.

You can play all the silly word games you want but your words are ignorant and hateful. You are doing nothing more than hiding behind your religion to discriminate against those different from you. The good news is America is rapidly moving forward and leaving these hateful attitudes behind. We are tired of your ilk using your religion to discriminate against others with different beliefs.

Examples include religious schools firing women who get pregnant who are not married, business owners refusing to provide insurance coverage for contraception for their employees, graduate students, training to be social workers, refusing to counsel gay people, pharmacies turning away women seeking to fill birth control prescriptions, bridal salons, photo studios, and reception halls closing their doors to same-sex couples planning their weddings.

While these situations may be different, one thing remains the same: religion is being used as an excuse to discriminate against and harm others.

 

[Eraserhead]

The only "moral" issue which involves gays is that if you have a clichéd heterosexual relationship between a wife and husband where they both only have friends of the same gender then there is no opportunity for cheating or being too close for comfort.

Significantly more serious issues along this line apply with polygamy (which is pretty likely to follow the same path as gays - although polygamous marriage is more complex) but similar issues there are more likely.

Of course the obvious solution to this problem is for couples to actually discuss what they think are appropriate boundaries and stop hoping that it won't be an issue. Given cheating is the most serious transgression in a relationship (aside from abuse) it seems to me to be a critical thing to have discussed. And you will have a much healthier and happier relationship if these issues have been discussed.

EDIT: You also have these issues if you're a heterosexual man and are friends with other women.

----------

I would love to see a source for this.

Actually I can see http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/104974-reid-this-years-budget-is-done. Yeah that was bad of Reid.

 

[0098386]

If they have a vicar then they sound like Anglicans not Catholics.

My mistake, I meant priest.

 

[Happybunny]

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

I am also not gay.

I am standing up against bigots because they have the RIGHT to be who they want to be, and not who you think they should be.

 

[AppleFan360]

Clearly another one with no clue about what the issues are. Gay people, while they would like you to not "disapprove of their lifestyle", aren't up in arms over how you feel. They are up in arms over how you use your feeling to deny them rights.

Give me a break. It's obvious you have no clue that most people in this world don't give a rats ass about what others do behind closed doors. The denial of rights is a product of a small minority group that has nothing better to do then to stir up trouble for others.

Why don't all the gays and the religious fanatics move to a desert island and fight it out and leave the rest of us alone.

 

[7709876]

If there wasn't an obsession with sex and who's sleeping with whom, a large part of this thread wouldn't exist . Who your neighbor consensually sleeps with is not relevant, not interesting and none of your (or your church's) business. Sex within and across genders happens, it always has, always will. If natural behavior is something you find "morally wrong" and "disgusting", I can't do anything about that, and as you say, you are free to believe it, but of course expect to be called on it each and every time.

Natural behavior? Oh, the some animals are gay argument? Some animals practice cannibalism as well - should we all do that as well?

----------

You can play all the silly word games you want but your words are ignorant and hateful. You are doing nothing more than hiding behind your religion to discriminate against those different from you. The good news is America is rapidly moving forward and leaving these hateful attitudes behind. We are tired of your ilk using your religion to discriminate against others with different beliefs.

Examples include religious schools firing women who get pregnant who are not married, business owners refusing to provide insurance coverage for contraception for their employees, graduate students, training to be social workers, refusing to counsel gay people, pharmacies turning away women seeking to fill birth control prescriptions, bridal salons, photo studios, and reception halls closing their doors to same-sex couples planning their weddings.

While these situations may be different, one thing remains the same: religion is being used as an excuse to discriminate against and harm others.

The good news is I am lucky enough not to live in America.

There is nothing ignorant or hateful in my words. It is a shame you don't understand that. It is ironic then that you decide to go on a hate filled rant of your own.

----------

The only thing disgusting around here is your prejudice and denial.

I have no interest in engaging with you any further - really I don't.

You have shown no interest in intelligent discourse and have done nothing but show your own hate filled prejudices.

 

[Gasu E.]

There is no list.

Mathew 5:17 is the verse that concerns the fulfillment of the old covenant. He created a new covenant with mankind. This is Christianity 101 stuff.

I'm a Catholic by the way and we don't base our faith on sola scriptura (scripture alone). We also include Sacred Tradition. Remember the Bible wasn't compiled for hundreds of years.

----------



Because homosexuality isn't a sin - homosexual acts are sinful. It really isn't complicated.

I am going out now. (To Mass funnily enough)

If you want to understand what the Catholic Church teaches on homosexuality this is a good starting point :

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...faith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html

That is my position on things.

The blind spot you religious dogmatics have is that you fail to seriously ask yourself the question: "Why did God stop talking to us 2,000 years ago?" Because the answer is obviously, "He didn't, and it's stupid to even think so."

You refuse to look at the world today and interpret what is going on as a facet of God's plan. Here's an example: The good Cardinal R. cites no authoritative sources more recent than Paul's Epistles. Well, when Paul was around, there were no more than 100 million people in the world. Today there are 7 billion and counting. You don't think that's a problem? "Be fruitful and multiply" is no longer operative. Since your guys have chosen to close down the Holy Scriptures, God has to send the new message in other ways. So please pay attention-- the prevalence of homosexuality in today's world, which clearly is part of God's plan, is the message to you to stop breeding. If your Church, and others, didn't have a vested interest in trying to monopolize and censor God's Word, you would see the new 21st century Holy Books confirming this.

 

[yg17]

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

I'm not gay either.

I think you'll find many of us around here defending gay rights even though we're not gay because we know it's the right thing to do.

 

[chrono1081]

You people are so funny. If someone thinks homosexually is a sickness you automatically label them as a bigot. Don't you see how utterly stupid and ignorant that is? The gay community has turned into a bunch of whiny cry babies that can't seem to stand getting their feelings hurt from people who don't approve of their lifestyle. If you are so secure about being gay, why do apposing comments bother you so much? Put away the tissue and get off your ass instead of concerning yourself with what others think about your personal life.

Because they ARE bigots, there is no way around it. Thats like saying "I hate black people but don't call me racist!".

And for calling gays crybabies? Get real. I pay taxes, yet I don't have equal rights because I'm gay. If you were in that situation you would be insanely pissed. No one chooses their sexuality despite what the uneducated out there try to claim. Not one person got a checkbox when they hit puberty to determine what gender they were attracted to. To this day, no one has been able to answer the "When did you choose to be straight?" question that often gets asked.

I can't get married in my state, I can be fired from my job if they knew I was gay, I can get attacked for holding hands with a significant other in public. There is also a huge stigma around being gay because people think its some horrible shameful thing.

Equal rights is all the gay community wants, nothing more. There is no hidden agenda, there is no trying to "convert people", none of that BS. Bigotry is the reason we don't have equal rights.

Until you are in my shoes don't try and talk about "putting away the tissues". You have equal rights, I don't.

 

[7709876]

the blind spot you religious dogmatics have is that you fail to seriously ask yourself the question: "why did god stop talking to us 2,000 years ago?" because the answer is obviously, "he didn't, and it's stupid to even think so."

you refuse to look at the world today and interpret what is going on as a facet of god's plan. Here's an example: The good cardinal r. Cites no authoritative sources more recent than paul's epistles. Well, when paul was around, there were no more than 100 million people in the world. Today there are 7 billion and counting. You don't think that's a problem? "be fruitful and multiply" is no longer operative. Since your guys have chosen to close down the holy scriptures, god has to send the new message in other ways. So please pay attention-- the prevalence of homosexuality in today's world, which clearly is part of god's plan, is the message to you to stop breeding. If your church, and others, didn't have a vested interest in trying to monopolize and censor god's word, you would see the new 21st century holy books confirming this.

lol