Well, what do you know: it turns out the discrimination is bad for business. Who could have guessed?
Arizona Governor and evil sorceress Jan Brewer is poised to veto the turn-away-the-gays bill, according to some insider gossip. Not because it’s unethical, or divisive or a hideous embarrassment; but because of pressure from business groups. Well, whatever works.
Brewer learned a tough lesson in the price of discrimination a few years ago, when the state signed a monstrous anti-immigrant bill that wound up costing Arizona $140 million in tourism and business. Whoops! So if they passed this most recent attempt at discrimination, Arizona would basically have become the “Everybody Go Away And Leave Us Alone Because We Hate You State,” which has a certain ring to it but is a little too long to fit on a state seal.
Every serious person hates this bill, even conservatives. They know it’s crazy and makes them look awful. So who’s still backing it? People who are crazy and awful, naturally.
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.
People like Senator Al Melvin, who says that the bill is not discriminatory. Obviously he knows that it is, but because he is a slimy sleazepot, he squirms and weasels and pretends that he cares about religious freedom more than throwing red meat to his donor base.
Fortunately, we have Anderson Cooper around to tear into those people. On his show last night he thrashed Melvin for being such a terrible person. Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/QvYYU7ECM_k
Ron Jackson
I know, let’s “invite” the Arizona legislature and their evangelical religious enablers to immigrate to Uganda. They will feel right at home!
northwest
AC laid that idiot bigot OUT.
Dakotahgeo
I can’t believe the low intelligence of the conservative extremist political jackalopes of AZ, and even worse, that they get elected! This anti-gay bill just will not fly, and will be involved in a lawsuit minutes after being signed into law, IF the Governor signs it, which I cannot fathom her doing so. Of course… AZ… OLD… blond………!
Robbie Young
I respect Mr. Cooper…..but he is asking the WRONG question. The question is not, “could someone under this bill discrimate against an unwed mother or a divorced person? The question is “Why would they NOT discriminate against those persons?” If this is about religious freedom…..if a person may not be required to service a person whose life or actions contradicts another person’s religious beliefs…then why would they only want to discriminate against “certain sinners?” i.e., gays…Why? Because it is not about religious freedom whatsoever. It is merely a comfortable, seemingly patriotic, American cloak in which to wear the discrimination and hatred.
Mezaien
From Tucson with love! MY RIGHT TO HEATS REPUBLICAN CHRISTINA WHITE;
gjg64
Talk about a deer in the headlights.
shadrak5
Even if Brewer vetoes this law, after hearing this, I don’t want to visit there again.
loren_1955
Honestly, folks, we are not all that stupid in Arizona. Melvin is an embarrassment as a human being let alone from AZ. Sometimes I wonder if they have ever been out of their comfort zone, if they have ever been discriminated against. They act like they have no clue what happened in the country 50+ years ago given they are trying to recreate the old Jim Crow laws again. These laws are not about religion. I don’t know a single religion that okays discrimination. I know of know scriptures or teachings by the master/teachers that say anything less than do unto others and love one another. These laws are simply a way for the irreligious to take cover behind for their hatred and bigotry. Simple as that.
Fitz
The damage to Arizona’s reputation is already done. No one with any kind of humanistic awareness wants to do business with them, or be there. It’s an ugly place of poor, benefits-dependent, slack jawed, prematurely aged in-bred hicks who blame everyone else for their problems.
alterego1980
Arizona is such a great natural place. I loved visiting there. Why is it that some of the most beautiful natural places on earth are sullied by some of the most wretched people on earth (in this case, conservative religious bigots & zealots)?
Mdterp01
Word is that Brewer will veto this bill. However, I don’t like her original comment when Asked what she would do. She was like “we’ll I haven’t seen the bill yet so when i get back to Arizona i need the time to review it and make a decision. Basically, a bunch of BS. What she should’ve said was any proposed bill that calls for the discrimination of anyone in the state of Arizona will be vetoed by me. What the hell was she waiting to see?? The sentence construction? The font type? This same bill was sent to her last year, which she did veto. But really girl???? What do you need to review?? If she doesn’t veto this bill I will write to every NFL team to ask that Arizona’s Super Bowl be taken away.
Dakotahgeo
@Mdterp01: And that should be just for STARTERS!
Tad
Sadly, Sen. Melvin is going to run for governor of the state to replace Ms. Brewski, I mean Brewer. They both look like they spend a wee bit too much time pondering over cocktails to me. But those people sure find time to stir up a whole lotta hate and bad PR nationally. Guess that’s what passes as leadership in that state.
Tad
@alterego1980: Hey, Texas is no garden state and they are right behind Arizona in GOP and religiously generated intolerance.
Tad
@shadrak5: Isn’t that the truth, though. Sadly, I’m a U of A alumni and also absolutely love Sedona and Tucson. Otherwise, I’d never cross their border again. Phoenix and Mesa have always been dreadful on all levels and that’s from where a lot of this vitriol emanates.
Respect4all
Maybe one of you Christians could tell me where in the New Testament it says “Thou shalt treat people thou dislikes as sub-human beings not worthy of dignity or respect.”
Dakotahgeo
@Respect4all: As an ordained CHRISTIAN minister I would kindly tell you to get off your fat ASS and do your own research! I really get disgusted with you non-christian butt wipes who think you have all the answers to the world’s problems. Even a half-witted bastard like yourself should know that there are no such writings in the New Testament and that Jesus Christ might be just as pissed off at the right wing extremists as I and the rest of the Christian people who are also hurt by these these jack-asinine faux christian people! Respect4all? Hell, you don’t even know what the word respect stands for or you wouldn’t be blowing smoke through your nether regions with such garbage. And as for what you might think of the Christiam church… please don’t dirty our premises with your rotten atheist carcasses… ever! We already have to deal with enopugh of your kind within our gates! AHole!
Harley
@Dakotahgeo: said with pease, love and understanding.
Stefano
@Dakotahgeo : Respect people choice of not beleive in god, please. And if you want us to stop using the bible than stop using it yourself as a weapon.
Dakotahgeo
@Harley: Peace…PEACE! You got off lucky, fella. Count your blessings!
Dakotahgeo
@Stefano: Respect is a two-way street! If I had really wanted to use the Bible as a WMD (weapon of mass destruction), I would have quoted the Old and New Testament verse by verse. You unintelligent toadstools really piss us intellectual fellows off no end! I will never deny you boys your right to be wrong, ever.
jwrappaport
@Dakotahgeo: “Rotten atheist carcasses”? “Our kind”? For a man of the cloth and one who speaks so highly of his moral and intellectual mettle, your comments almost invariably say otherwise. They are crass, vain, and quite frankly childish, and I’m surprised that you think they do you credit – quite the opposite. I’m all for a fiery argument, but there’s no need to make it personal and resort to such unnecessary and vulgar ad hominems.
I’m a devout nonbeliever, but so what? Does that mean my factual or moral claims are inherently wrong? Suppose I believed in God. Does that mean what I say is inherently right?
jwrappaport
Edit: that’s supposed to be “your kind” rather than “our kind.”
Harley
@Dakotahgeo: Sorry but your response is nothing but hatred and evil incarnate. You are Satan. You are to be damned. Off to HELL with you. Jesus would NEVER accept vitriol that vomits forth from thy face portal. You should be ashamed for your hatred. How un-Christian of you. To say you are an ordained Christian says to me you got your degree on-line. Sry. You are not a true Christian. You are evil.
Dakotahgeo
@jwrappaport:
@Harley:
Spare me your faux observations of my creds and lot in life. My M.Div. is from an accredited Seminary and my pension proves you wrong. Whatever else you need proof of, look it up. You left-behinds are not worth my time. And yes, stay away from true Christian people… they know who your kind are Tchau!