I would gladly have given testimony at the Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, but couldn’t make it. I have, however, sent emails to my legislators. I urge you to do the same. It wouldn’t hurt to follow up with a phone call. The text of my email is below, and you can feel free to cut/paste relevant portions of it for your own email.
–Begin message–
I’m a constituent of District 30, and unfortunately was unable to attend the judicial committee meeting on SB 2278 this week. This is the bill to amend state law regarding discrimination by adding the term “sexual orientation”. I’m writing to voice my strong opposition to this bill. I have tried to find information on the status of this bill, but have been unable to do so. If it continues to the floor for a vote, I must urge you to vote NO on this bill, and to urge your fellow Representatives to do so as well.
Like those who founded our country, I’m a Christian. Because I believe the Bible, I believe that homosexuality and its variants are wrong. It’s my Constitutionally protected right to think so, and to exercise my beliefs freely. The people behind SB 2278 don’t agree with that; in fact, they want to legitimize their sinful act at the expense of the religious freedoms of others.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those wacky Westboro types that pickets funerals and the like. I actually joined the Patriot Guard to oppose those people. But I don’t appreciate having someone try to ram their sexual agenda down the throats of North Dakotans. I believe that homosexuality is an abomination according to the Bible, but so is ALL sin. That includes theft, adultery, lying, etc. Just because the physical manifestation of homosexuality is more offensive than the others doesn’t mean we’re singling it out. By the same token, we don’t have “thieves advocacy groups” pushing legislation trying to legitimize their sin, do we? There aren’t any “Liars’ Pride” parades that I know of. But there is a very strong pro-homosexual lobby; they seek to be legitimized by passing legislation guaranteeing that they get special status above other citizens, and that’s wrong.
One reason why legislation like this has been labeled “insidious” by legislators in other states such as Indiana which are evaluating “hate crimes” legislation is the “aid ,abet, or induce” part of it. If “sexual orientation” is added to this law, and a pastor preaches out of the Bible that homosexuality is wrong, these groups intend for the pastor to be prosecuted for any perceived “hate cimes” or “discrimination” against homosexuals by anyone who heard his sermon. They are not really interested in equal rights; their goal is to silence all opposition to their sin. They know that it is frowned upon by most Americans, so they wish to legislate the opposition into silence by fear of prosecution.
Case in point: my wife and I own a duplex. For years we have rented the other half of it to help make our house payment. We’ve rented to friends or acquaintances the whole time. If I wanted to list it as an available rental property, but declined to rent it to a homosexual couple because I don’t want this sin entering my home, the proponents of this bill would have me face legal penalty. My religious objections, guaranteed by the Free Exercise clause of the 1st Amendment as well as the section of ND state law that SB 2278 attempts to amend, would be irrelevant if these people had their way. I am not seeking legislation to hang Bible verses on the wall in their house; yet they are seeking the force of government to force me to allow their sin into mine.
People who chose homosexuality deserve no more protection under the law than the rest of us. They don’t want “equality” per se; if that was the case, they would not be trying to use the force of law to trump my freedom of religion. I believe that seemingly innocuous legislation like SB 2278 is the beginning of a slippery slope where the “rights” of people with deviant sexual practices take priority over the Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all Americans. That’s the hidden agenda behind SB 2278, and the reason why I believe it deserves a resounding defeat.
Thank you for your time.
Clint F
Bismarck, ND
–End message–
I could add more to this post, but that email sums it up. Here are some resources for you in finding your legislators and making your voice heard. That’s the system of government we enjoy, folks…let’s make use of it!
These links will open in a new window. The PDF link will launch Adobe Reader on your computer.
Full text of SB 2278 (PDF format)
Find your legislative district, if you don’t know it already
Senate member directory, where you can find Senators for your legislative district
House member directory, where you can find Representatives for your legislative district
North Dakota Family Alliance, who fights the good fight while the rest of us neglect our duty to influence our government.
It’s time to get active, folks! Activist groups emboldened by their party’s success at the national level are going to be pushing their agendas harder than ever. It’s up to us to stop them. We have a form of government that only works if the people get involved in it. Our opposition has no problem getting their activists going; we need to do the same. If we don’t care enough to send an email or place a phone call, we get the government we deserve.