• Landrin201@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Because if it isn’t then millions of people in this country will openly be discriminated against because of their religion.

    I’m Jewish. Do I really need to explain why I think having protections for my religious beliefs is a good idea? There are more LGBT people than Jews in America. We are a small minority who has historically been heavily discriminated against, and that discrimination is ongoing right now. Antisemitism has gotten significantly more out in the open over the last decade. I can confidently state that had I not been protected by laws, I likely wouldn’t have gotten into college, gotten my first job, or had many of the opportunities that I’ve had in life. I know friends who have been told to their faces that an employer didn’t want to hire them because they were jews.

    I don’t really care if religion is “unscientific,” for people who are religious is a critical part of who they are and, more importantly, a lot of other people (religious and not) assign it just as much importance and will happily discriminate against, ostracize, and even kill people for being the “wrong” religion if allowed to do so. I can’t just “give up” by Jewishness because it’s a deeply ingrained part of who I am, and asking me to “just stop” is frankly as offensive as telling a gay person to “just stop” believing they are gay. And, more importantly, even if I completely rescinded all of my belief in my religious beliefs AND stopped doing all Jewish activities, got rid of all my Jewish paraphernalia, converted to Christianity and lived openly as a Christian, there are still people who would consider me Jewish and discriminate against me simply for having Jewish parents.

    YOU might not like religion, and I completely understand why so many people feel that way, but removing religions from being protected classes Isa really great way to guarantee millions of people get discriminated against every single day.

    • SapphicFemme@lib.lgbt
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      1 year ago

      I apologise my comment is a bad comment … You are correct 100% … I had and tunnel mind while typing it out. You are right and bring good points.

      Religion should be protected in the sense discrimination should NOT be allowed or hate speech also be BANNED towards religious groups.

      I’m really sorry again… It must have not felt good when you read my comment and saw what i typed. Please forgive me.

      I’ve been hurt a lot by different Christians in my life and i have seen a lot of Christians cause a lot of harm to way to many people in varying ways I’m angered at the hypocrisy and lies that are regularly spread by Christians. I’m angered that other Christians allow it and don’t stop it. Not even the pope has seemingly done anything.

      • Landrin201@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        I understand completely, I’ve dealt with a lot of asshole Christians myself. No need to apologize.

        What frustrates me in he last few years is that I see a LOT of people online openly calling for the removal of religion as a protected class, or questioning why it is one to begin with.

        And in a context like this, I understand why people do it. It’s a visceral reaction to seeing LGBT people’s protections stripped away in favor of “religious protections” which actually protect nobody in rulings like this one. Gay people should be protected equally like religious people are, and it isn’t a “protection” to allow discrimination based on one’s subjective religious belief.

        But if we strip ALL religious protections, then it opens the door for significantly worse harm to be done to religious minorities. What we need is to undo this one ruling, not stop protecting religious people from discrimination or protecting their right to practice their religion freely. And I don’t see discriminating against other people as part of free practice of religion, because one person’s rights end where another person’s begin, and other people have the right not to be discriminated against.

        • SapphicFemme@lib.lgbt
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          1 year ago

          and it isn’t a “protection” to allow discrimination based on one’s subjective religious belief.

          That is 100% true, it’s othering another out group, not creating peace, unity and an egalitarian society

          I think best would be to allow, protection of religion but not allow the people who weaponise religion to harm others