We might not have any major marriage equality questions before the U.S. Supreme Court this session, but at least one case could significantly affect life for LGBTs.
We’re talking about the Obama administration’s appeal of a ruling that Hobby Lobby, the craft store, cannot be required to provide contraception coverage for employees. The store’s lawyers successfully argued that the company is a religious “person,” and can’t be compelled to violate certain religious beliefs.
Yes. That’s right. Arts and craft stores are people now. This is the world we live in.
And you can probably see where this is going. If any company can circumvent any law by claiming religious belief, then anti-discrimination laws don’t mean a whole heck of a lot. This could mean the beginning of a lot of Supreme-Court-approved antigay animus from businesses who can now claim that Jesus told them to stone their gay customers.
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It’s hard to imagine that a craft store could be antigay, for heaven’s sake. But Hobby Lobby works hand-in-hand with the Alliance Defending Freedom, the same group pushing lawsuits around the country. So when you buy pipe cleaners and thumbtacks at the store, you’re part of the vast antigay conspiracy.
In other words, you might want to think carefully about where to shop when you need new scrapbooking supplies. We hear nice things about Michael’s, and we know all you artistic gays buy lots and lots of craft supplies.
Hobby Lobby’s no stranger to charges of discrimination. Back in 1999, there were a flurry of reports of anti-gay Hobby Lobby employees at Colorado stores, although nothing ever seems to have been corroborated. And there were accusations of anti-Semetism at a New Jersey store in 2013. (The chain carried Christmas decorations, but nothing for Jewish holidays.) They have 550 stores all over the country, so you probably have one close to you.
So here we are: this week the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case. And soon, they could rule that a strongly-held belief is more important than the rule of law. Better stock up on yarn now before things get any more testy.
Rad
They are expanding into Southern Massachusetts (Seekonk); the store is just about completed. For a “person” it seems mighty big.
Pandi66
yes, the arizona law was too broad. a SCOTUS ruling in favor of hobby lobby wouldn’t be carte blanche for businesses to discriminate on religious grounds. the SCHOTUS would narrowly construe their decision to religious objections to being forced to provide birth control and other benefits based on religious objections to ACA requirements. it is a far cry from there to the widespread discrimination that the AZ law could have legalized.
and as for ruling that a “strongly-held belief is more important than the rule of law.”, you do realize that the First Amendment guarantees religious freedom? that means that it is the foremost law following the establishment of the federal government.
SpunkyBunks
I went shopping at a Hobby Lobby before I knew about their homophobia. This store was filled with the most cheap (Made in China), tacky crap you could ever want to put in your home. Their merchandise looked no better than dollar store quality with outrageous prices. It felt weird, like a really horrible Michaels going out of business.
When I found out later how homophobic they were, I said to myself, no wonder. No gay man would ever put that cheap junk in their home!
JohnnyCorby
I agree that they sell low quality crap. I was really disappointed when I visited a Hobby Lobby out of curiosity recently. I’m talking about falling apart cheap. At least at a Dollar General you know what you are getting. I don’t want to say I above people who shop there but this stuff will not last and beyond trashy. How do they even stay in business?
I love how Hobby Lobby celebrates the most Christian holiday of the year Halloween.
Goforit
@Pandi66: I think you might be just a little bit confused as to the meaning of “religious freedom”. It means that you are free to participate in any religion of your choosing; that the government can not decide which religion is the correct religion. It does NOT mean that any member of a particular religion can ignore what ever law that they do not agree with. No matter how “broad” or “narrow” the law may be.
caytiebug
You have simply gone off the deep end with this rant. Hobby Lobby has two (That I’ve seen, there may be more) obvious gay men working at one of it’s stores that I shop at. This is not why they sued to be excluded on a certain matter from Obamacare. They have a moral objection to the morning after pill. They have a faith based operation and have clearly stated that from day one. They along with a lot of other religious operations do not believe in abortion and that is why they want to be excluded from the one and only aspect of the new obamacare policy. Wow, talk about not knowing what you’re talking about before you open your mouth.