Remember our friends, Sabrina and Todd Farber, the homo-haters whose company, Garden Guy, Inc. refused a patron their services after finding out he and his lover are both men?
Well, just over two weeks after people such as yourselves helped elevate their local discriminatory practices to a national news story, there’s an article in the Los Angeles Times rehashing the issue.
While nothing new’s really uncovered, nor did the Farbers agree to comment for said article, Tim Wildmon (pictured) of Minnesota’s American Family Assocation had these defensive words:
It shouldn’t come as a shock when a guy who takes his faith seriously says, ‘I can’t support this’… He doesn’t need to be persecuted for his actions.
We agree: he doesn’t need to be persecuted for his actions, but he should be. This, of course, raises the question: at which point should someone be dogged for their religious beliefs?
Surely we wouldn’t persecute an Orthodox Jew for not eating a bit of bacon, but most homos are plenty mad over the rioting in Jerusalem….So, readers, we ask you: when’s religion too much?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Should religion be simply a spiritual practice, or should people attempt to extend their religious beliefs to social – and thus potentially divisive – practice? Remember, we don’t like murder, but do we not approve of murder because it’s inherently wrong, or because of a more pervasive religious rhetoric?
Discuss…
Previously: An Anti-Gay Co. Grows In Texas
An Anti-Gay Co. Grows in Texas II
jackmax2
After this story first appeared I wrote them an email at the garden guy site asking them what thier response would be when one of thier sons told them he was gay. They have a photo of their family on the site. (with 3 sons the odds are decent) I never got a response. [email protected]
Check out their son in the yellow polo. He gets my vote. http://www.garden-guy.com/about.html
pygar
hypothetical: Someone such as this man needed a heart transplant to save his life and the best heart surgeon he could get was a homosexual. do you really think he would say “sorry Dr. but my religious beliefs do not permit you to save my life. I will go with the less qualified surgeon.” ?
……
yeah right….
he would turn into a total hypocrite. The gays in Houston who were snubbbed need to pick up the gay yellow pages and hire gay landscapers. They are probably better anyhow.
Kevin
“Should religion be simply a spiritual practice, or should people attempt to extend their religious beliefs to social – and thus potentially divisive – practice?”
SLAVERY. People used the bible to justify slavery. People still use religious books to justify slavery.
“The gays in Houston who were snubbbed need to pick up the gay yellow pages and hire gay landscapers. They are probably better anyhow.”
pygar, you’re right. I’ve seen his work and it’s crap. Gay people can do better.
peter
I don’t think he’s being persecuted for his religious beliefs at all; he’s being persecuted for being intolerant. The original ministry of Christ embraced prostitutes, lepers, and thieves as well as mainstream Jews. Faith calls modern Christians to lead a Christ-like life, and a thoughtful reading of Christianity would certainly ask Mr. Farber to embrace the dignity of his fellow humans whether they are gay or not.
I think it’s a shame that we gays are so willing to cede religion to bigots, when Scripture actually teaches a message of such compassion and inclusivity.
DBB
No one should be persecuted for what they beleive, period! HOWEVER education is a wonderful tool. Just by looking at their website I wouldn’t hire them, If they can’t handle the heat they doing business they should shut down when people get the word out of how they run that business.
Ryan
Religion should never be applied anywhere beyond the self. If someone, for religious reasons, thinks homosexuality is wrong – that’s fine. However, they shouldn’t go and try to enact laws against gay people. If they have a problem with it, they should deal with their own demons and live and let live – ignoring those they can’t possibly deal with because of their own “faith.”
Joel
Why shouldn’t someone share their religion with others? If it is that important in your life, I would expect that you would want to share it with others. However, there is a huge difference between sharing and imposing. The best way for these “Christian” landscapers to share their faith would be to do consistently great landscaping, regardless of the client’s beliefs, for good prices, and be great people while doing it. Then clients may see Christianity as more attractive. Being ugly and discriminatory and mean sure ain’t what Jesus preached!
Richard Kunnas
You (holla@queerty,com) seem to imply that religious values do not belong in societal situations. Please consider that
IF YOUR RELIGIOUS VALUES HAVE NO SOCIAL VAULE THEY ARE OF NO VALUE.
Rich Kunnas
Barry Grubs
The issue is really no different then when restaurants used to refuse service to “negros” or when landlords hung out signs that said “no Irish allowed”. If you are engaged in business you have a responsibility to serve anyone who asks. I don’t have to like you. In fact, I can think you’re a complete a-hole, but I still need to do my job. My guess is that if one of these bigoted homophobes came into a local establishment and were refused service by a gay employee because he didn’t like heterosexuals, the employee would no longer be working there. If you don’t want the homo business then make your beliefs abundantly clear. We have businesses locally that put “Jesus Fish” in their yellow pages ads, scripture quotes in each pizza box, etc. When I see that I go elsewhere…MY choice, not theirs.
Medusa de Biddy
Of course this should be news. Many of us, even those of us who are straight, appreciate knowing about people like this so we can chose not to patronize hatemongers.
scientivore
I think these people have every right to oppose homosexuality.
They do not, however, have the right to discriminate against gay customers.
I don’t know why they think that accepting work from gay people is somehow supporting gay rights. Safeway doesn’t check who I vote for before taking my money.