Tim Cook: Pro-discrimination ‘religious freedom’ laws are dangerous

30 Mar 2015 • washingtonpost.com

A wave of legislation, introduced in more than two dozen states, would allow people to discriminate against their neighbors. Some, such as the bill enacted in Indiana last week that drew a national outcry and one passed in Arkansas, say individuals can cite their personal religious beliefs to refuse service to a customer or resist a state nondiscrimination law.

Others are more transparent in their effort to discriminate. Legislation being considered in Texas would strip the salaries and pensions of clerks who issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — even if the Supreme Court strikes down Texas’ marriage ban later this year. In total, there are nearly 100 bills designed to enshrine discrimination in state law.

These bills rationalize injustice by pretending to defend something many of us hold dear. They go against the very principles our nation was founded on, and they have the potential to undo decades of progress toward greater equality.

Please continue speaking out Tim. Gay people don’t want to take your churchs or Bibles away from you - they just want to get married like everyone else.

I’ve said it over and over again 50-100 years from now (if not sooner) Christians will look back at how they treated this issue with shame, sadness, and deep regret - the same way they look at slavery and other human rights issues today that the church was once on the wrong side of.