Recently the Civil Rights Commission in Colorado ruled to uphold a judge’s finding that a baker could not discriminate against a gay couple who wanted a wedding cake made. “I can believe anything I want, but if I’m going to do business here, I’d ought to not discriminate against people,” Commissioner Raju Jaram of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission said. Of course “religious freedoms” proponents, conservatives and anti-LGBT rights groups were upset.
This was the featured topic of a talk radio show in Atlanta hosted by Rashad Richey. Mr. Richey presented this case to his listening audience and also discussed the Religious Freedoms bills being presented to local and state governments across the country. These bills would make it legal to deny goods or services based off of a private business owner’s individual religious beliefs.
So for example in the case of the baker, if he believed that homosexuality is an abomination or sin, then he could deny services based off of his religious beliefs. Even though Mr. Richey was vehemently against discrimination and these religious freedoms bills, the overwhelming majority of his callers were in favor for them. I must note that the Rashad Richey show is on WAOK 1380 AM, which has predominately African American programming and talk show hosts. Caller after caller gave their reasons for supporting laws that would allow a private business owner to not only denying services to LGBT customers but also to Black customers if they choose. In a nut shell, their reasons were; “if it’s their private business that doesn’t take money from the government, then they can do what they want. Oh and by the way; homosexuality is evil, wrong, I’m sick of these gays pushing their agenda and calling and comparing it to civil rights and the Civil Rights movement”. So yours truly Octavius Williams decided to call in and not only combat the foolish rhetoric that was being spewed but to also offer a different perspective. I will summarize what I stated.
I began by stating who I was and sharing that I was Black, Homosexual and a non-believer. So I’m a trifecta of being despised by some in many different circles. Next, I do believe there is a big difference between race and sexuality; nonetheless let’s not pretend that Black gay people did not participate in the Civil Rights movement of the 50’ and 60’s. Just because you are not aware, that doesn’t mean we didn’t exist and participate. Notably for some strange reason, Black religious minded folk today seems to not know or forget that an open Black gay man organized the famous and historical March On Washington DC where the world witnessed MLK’s famous “I Have A Dream Speech”. Yes an open and out Black Gay man Bayard Rustin organized this march. Being gay doesn’t erase “blackness” and the experience and struggles that come with it.
Next, public tax dollars pay for roads and interstates. Tax dollars pay for police departments and fire departments who also use these roads and interstates. If a private business owner’s customers use public roads to get to their business then they benefit from local public tax dollars. If their private business is burglarized and they call the police, then they benefit from local public tax dollars. If their private business is on fire and they call the fire department to put it out; the fire department is able to assist their private business due to local public government tax dollars. So because private businesses benefit directly from local tax dollars, they should not be allowed to discriminate against certain individuals amongst the public regardless of their personal religious beliefs.
Let me give the quick insight that went into my final statement to the radio host. You may or may not be aware but many groups used religion to justify the enslavement of black and brown peoples. The justification was based upon the curse of Cain. God bestowed additional punishment to Cain for killing his brother Abel and lying about it, so God marked Cain and his descendants. This mark was black skin. So many whites believed that not only were blacks inferior but were cursed by God himself and the proof was their skin.
That was the thought behind my last point that I made. A Black Christian couple is on a road trip. The husband is driving due to his wife being pregnant. During the trip they are in rural part of a state that has enacted “religious freedom” bills. The wife begins to experience severe pains in her abdomen. The husband can’t call for help due to his cell phone not having a signal. He pulls off the road into a private business desperate to get help for his wife. He goes in and asks the business owner to call 911. The business owner states sorry but we don’t serve darkies because you have the Mark Of Cain. I hope I made my point.
OckyDub
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Very good article. At first I agreed that if it’s a private business then they can sell to whom ever they wish. I know I don’t sell artwork to certain customers (mainly because I know them for years back) but once you mentioned utilizing tax paid streets and services, it opened a whole new perspective for me (in regards to businesses of this manner, Im still selective of who gets my art). Good job, Ock.
Great rebuttal to the cuifs.
I completely agree and I am glad you called in. At the end of the day tons of PRIVATELY OWNED restaurants and stores during the 50s and 60s refused to serve black patrons but….you know what, why do we even try anymore, some [blk] ppl will never get it.
Christianity is nothing but a virus…it causes mental issues and is a man-made religion that concocted a god in their image….much of the Bible is full of myths mixed with cosmic law. Christians are some of the most unbearable people to be around. Living in Middle America (Indiana), they are on every corner spreading their insanity. A world without Christianity or Islam would be a paradise.
Very true. I will admit, though…whomever came up with the bright idea to use it (religion) to control people was a smart ass muthafuka. To cause a group of people that don’t even know you to believe in, and subsequently fear, punishment by being cursed to roam an intangible realm in eternal torment because of a particular opinion/practice/lifestyle they have that you don’t agree with, was pure genius. They control the world with it. smh
Thank you for speaking up and the synopsis of your statements is on point. I don’t understand the folks that claim to be for civil rights but cherry pick the groups they decide to support. I also despise the Christians who claim to be so Godly, but in a single breath will spew the most vile and repugnant of statements. I personally believe that as stated in Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be known as the children of God. These folks are far from being peacemakers and if God does exist, I bet he would have a few choice words for them. I believe that we change hearts and minds one person at a time. That means coming out and living openly, speaking out against injustice, and standing up for ones values and principals.
So glad you called in man..closed mouths don’t get fed!
Very well articulated… Got goose bumps from that article. Thanks.
Very well articulated. Glad you called in and stated your beliefs.
Cypher Avenue is really coming of age, y’all continue to impress with each article. Very good piece.
*as WAOK plays* it’s about time black ppl heard your wisdom because honestly the ongoing diatribe has to CEASE! I too got goose bumps from reading this article and I could only wish I heard your response live on the radio however I’m all too glad you @ocky put this info out into the atmosphere. Although I’m sure it fell on deaf ears however it needed to be heard. Major props to you man makes me proud to be apart of CypherAvenue.
I dont know you personally @ocky but I am proud of what you did. It made me smile a lil.bit
@Ocky has been a pleasant surprise. When I saw the verdict the other day I was certain Ocky would have agreed with the baker. I stand corrected.
Props to you for taking a stand! So many fallacies are used to say that God finds homosexuality an “abomination.” Many Christians have not taken the time to understand the Bible. You will hear them quote scripture and tell you what they believe and that’s fine. I don’t have a problem with that. Most of us need something to believe in that is larger than what we know. For those of us who are of African decent, it is in our spiritual DNA to believe in God because faith has always been central to our experience here on Earth.
Having said that, we must know that the original Hebrew text was compiled around 250 AD. For some time after that the Apocrypha or New Testament was not canonized until around 363 AD with the belief that it was not as pure as the original Hebrew text. Why is any of this important? There was many political forces at work to centralize the many interpretations of the text AND to wipe out all vestiges of any other form of spirituality.
It is important to note that the word abomination is of Latin origin and did not appear until the 14th Century. Just think about that for a minute. That’s a long time and as we see in our own time how Christian leaders use their influence to support or reject thinking around scripture. The second thing to note is that the scriptures that allude to homosexual sex is about having sex with temple priest of pagan religions NOT homosexuality as we see it today. There was and is an even stronger urge to resist…
It’s been central to every human beings experience. Everyone at one point studied a form of paganism that was relevant to the geographical habitat of their culture.
A spirituality that was not religious, oppressive, judgmental or human based (apostles and all that rubbish). It was about the beauty and importance of nature, the natural forces and simple human intuition.
Of course the white people successfully albeit rather simply, were able to manipulate the Africans by calling their faith voodoo and pretty much forcing them-with no/little choice-to convert to their blue eyed Jesus with long flowing blonde locks-yeah,a real Israeli look!
Ironic thing is, for all their efforts to demonize indigenous practices (African and/or other cultures) their descendants are all up in them nowadays. To this day I remain skeptical of their intentions/ interest in being initiated into African Traditional Practices (or Buddhism, or Native American Shamanism, or Sanatana Dharma; the list goes on and on). It agitates me.
@ Thinker
I encourage you to read the Bible a little more in reference to the second to the last sentence you wrote. The condemnation of the act of homosexuality is not solely related to temple prostitution. I could give many examples with texts ,but this is not the forum.
Actually 1st century followers of Christ never got involved with politics. They were neutral . Clearly understanding that the governments belonged to Satan. So the whole system is rigged from top down in favor of his agenda. Remember Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world in exchange for bowing down to him and Jesus never denied they weren’t his to give.
Those that claim “Christianity” and get caught up in what secular government does or doesn’t do are stepping into a area not granted by who they claim to follow directed them . This is the real issue and will ultimately find religion at large going full speed ahead to its foretold demise.
It’s all fascinating to look at. I sometimes wonder if potential patrons of these establishments that don’t want to serve them for religious reasons are actually undercover agents stirring the pot. Like many here I am of the opinion ,why shop where they don’t want your dollars anyway?
A lot could be going on with these supposed battles with businesses that aren’t what they appear to be on the surface.
Religion is being marginalized and with good reason. And many here have given substantial reasons why.
Hate, hypocrisy and ignorance.
Loved the article. Growing up in a highly religious yet surprisingly critically-minded family, I’ve gotten to have many interesting debates on how religion relates to school, employment, government, and other issues. On this one, the single core principle I cannot stress enough is that a religious belief, even when sincerely held, should not allow one to discriminate against a protected group (e.g. based on sexuality, race, gender, etc.) in providing services, even from a private business. If it did, then it could be drawn to very dangerous conclusions: for instance, a private hospital denying life-saving medical treatment to a patient because he’s gay (and if this sounds far-fetched, the law in Arizona that was vetoed by its governor would have allowed for exactly that).
I absolutely cannot stand using religion as a means to disenfranchise a group. And while no one is going to live or die based on a wedding cake, it speaks to a larger issue about how easy it is to discriminate against gays in many areas of the country. Though we’ve come a long way in terms of acquiring rights, there are still many states where you can be fired for being gay, or not allowed to adopt a child. And at the end of the day, none of these laws have a drop to do with religion, no matter what the most vocal evangelicals will say. Its simply about keeping another group down so they can feel superior, and the Bible just happens to be a decent tool with which to do that.
Why would you want to eat something made by someone who doesn’t like your kind? I certainly no going to break my neck to patronize someone who clearly did not want my money. It’s the same thing when people try to hold weddings at establishments that don’t support gay weddings or ceremonies.
I do see the bigger picture here and understand the complaints and legal action help prevent such discrimination in the future. But after all the rights and freedoms are cleared, would they still go to this Baker for a cake no matter what the occasion?
Why would you want to sit at a table with a bunch of white people who don’t want you there? Why would you want to go to a school with a bunch of white people who dont want you there?
Xaos I hear you on both points.
A Blue Ribbon to you for making your point so eloquently. I would love to know how the callers after you reacted. Are you able to share any of the reactions aired after your call?
I was the second to last caller and he also thought I made good points along with the show’s host.
Truth about Bayard Rustin: another fake “proud” Negro that spent his life chasing after white man tail. No thanks.
I hear you…screw him and his many accomplishments and sacrifices he made for all black people…even the ones who hated him.
*nodding head aggressively* Ummm hmmm, that Uncle Tom!
LOL…how dare he date and have sex with non-black men while fighting for the rights of millions.
You say fighting for the rights of millions, I say fighting to have greater access to those white boys he coveted so much. Negroes like Bayard Rustin don’t fool me, I see through them. Black gay men can continue to exalt Rustin if they want, reality is that he wasn’t checkin for any of you. Pathetic.
So, you can keep Rustin, because he got what he wanted. Oh, while we’re at it, you can keep that other negro white boy chaser, “brother” Baldwin too.
Thanks.
Whats pathetic is that you focus on who dude slept with over 40 years ago and you are bitter about it. At the end of the day, he was an activist who shaped and changed lives for the advancement of man kind…and you mad because of where his dick went? Yeah Pathetic.
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LOL, you can call me bitter if you want @Ocky, but one thing you can’t call me is a LIAR. I’m speaking the truth about your beloved Bayard Rustin, but I guess that’s a little inconvenient.
Question: You don’t find it the least bit odd that this black man who grew up black, lived a black existence and spent his life surrounded by black people from all walks of life, chose to date/chase and partner with whites, exclusively? Who else, but a broken soul, would chase, mate and lust after their oppressor while simultaneously fighting against them? The fact that this man was shamelessly chasing white men over 40 years ago makes it even WORSE in my opinion. How many Jews do you see chasing and wasting after Germans? Take your time, I’ll wait on that one.
You keep trying to reduce my argument to purely sex, when I’m speaking a several levels beyond that @Ocky. I’m not focused between his legs, I’m looking further north- at what’s in his heart and his head. Nice try though. Those that are operating with low cylinders will accept that nonsense, but I hope you know better.
I guess to you and some of your readers it’s healthy to lust and worship your oppressors while simultaneously fighting them, huh? Yes, pathetic indeed.
No disrespect @straight_up, but why is it necessary to concern ourselves with what someone else does/did/or is doing with their personal life. Yeah, there’s blk folk that go exclusively after “The Oppressors”. They have their reasons; you and I may not agree but in the end it’s THEIR business. I don’t think there’s SUCH an influx of Blk Gay Men “chasin” after Wht Gay Men, that it is having a detrimental effect on the “Black People Movement”. We’re doing a good enough job of sabotaging that shit on our own (gay/str8/male/female alike). Again, no disrespect. I don’t know how old you are or what type of things you’ve done, but what do you personally do to, I guess, “forward the blk movement”, that Bayard’s romantic preferences are f’n up so badly? I only ask (and not sarcastically, but in genuine interest) because I see some blk ppl get SO F’N TIGHT at shit other blk folk do (wrong), but themselves aren’t doin much more. I can say for me, I (like most of us) am not in a position to do much of anything. But at the same time I’m not tight up about other peoples’ business, either. Call me an asshole, but I guess I see people (black/white/red/ and otherwise) for what we (humans) are and know that most shit wont change in our lifetimes, and some just wont change at all. (Some) blk dudes always gonna go ONLY for wht and/or other, (most) blk ppl never gonna stop sayin nigga/bitch/hoe/faggot, and(a lot)of blk youth never gonna pull they f’n pants up…
Maybe the only males he could find during that time who were comfortable with him and his openness were white and he didn’t want to live in the shadows?
It could very well have been that he WANTED to date black men but just couldn’t find any black men to date so he went with what was available. I don’t see any point in dating someone based SOLELY on their race just because of their race. That goes for blacks who only date non blacks and vice versa. But there could have been circumstances that we are not privy too in this man’s life that we just can’t assume that he only dated whites because they were white.
Just minds blown across the metro Atlanta area lol
I feel that if a business doesn’t want to serve a person based on whatever the hell, then they should be able to deny service. The question is why are you wanting to still go to a place that doesn’t want you? To me that’s a form a self defecation. There are other places to spend your money that don’t care who u are.
I think one of the big issues with the thinking of “private businesses can deny whoever they want” is that private businesses play an integral role in many aspects of society that the government does not fill. So when you have a specific group of people who get denied by a business, it creates social discrimination. There isn’t always a government alternative and such, and definitely not always an accessible one.
Also, while the wedding cake issue is relatively minor, what if it extends to more serious services, like private hospitals and such. Should a hospital be allowed to deny service to whoever they like, for whatever reason they like?
I’m curious. The Supreme Court recently ruled that corporations like Hobby Lobby are “people” with protected first amendent religious rights. Does that mean that if a company or organization refuses to do business with them due to a conflict with their own nondiscriminatory polices they can then be sued for violating the corporation’s religious rights?