A GOP Congressman says it should be perfectly legal to fire someone because they are gay. Rep. James Lankford, the Republican U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, says that he is perfectly fine with firing people for their sexual orientation. Sadly, laws often agree with Rep. Lankford. You can be fired for being gay in 29 states, and in 34 states, you can be fired for being transgender. This is why we need an inclusive ENDA.
Annie-Rose Strasser and Scott Keyes at Think Progress report:
STRASSER: Would you support a law that says you can’t fire someone for their sexual orientation –
KEYES: Similar to protections for people on race or gender?
LANKFORD: Well, you’re now dealing with behavior and I’m trying to figure out exactly what you’re trying to mean by that. Because you’re dealing with — race and sexual preferences are two different things. One is a behavior-related and preference-related and one is something inherently — skin color, something obvious, that kind of stuff. You don’t walk up to someone on the street and look at them and say, “Gay or straight?”
KEYES: But you think that even if you can’t see they’re that way, you don’t think someone is born gay necessarily?
LANKFORD: Do I personally? No. I don’t. I think it’s a choice issue. Are tendencies and such? Yes. But I think it’s a choice issue.
Strasser and Keyes add:
Being gay is actually not a choice, according to the American Medical Association, the American Association of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, and all other accredited medical organizations. A large percentage of LGBT workers have experienced discrimination at work and many have been fired because of their sexual orientation.
Last month, notoriously anti-gay hypocrite GOP Congressman Steve King said gays should lie about their sexuality unless they want to risk being fired for being gay, which the government can’t stop.
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The congressman should immediately be asked when he plans to introduce legislation repealing employment protection based on religion and political affiliation. Both are very clearly choices, so it should be legal, according to his belief, to fire people based on these criteria.
I wish these lawmakers, church officials, and general right-wing losers would just come out and say that they want to deny gay people rights because they hate gay people. I'm getting really tired of hearing how they have "evidence" or "proof" or "good reason" to deny these rights. It would make it so much easier for people to see who they really are: a bunch of hateful people with nothing better to do than screw other peoples' lives up.
We KNOW why the senator thinks being gay is a choice: because like 99% of homophobes, he is gay (or rather has same sex attraction). HE has stifled and suppressed his own nature and hidden in the closet. so yes, for this nelly fag being "gay" was a choice. And supressing one's sexuality often leads to frustration and anger. Gays are the "forbidden fruit" for him, so he must attack and try to eradicate the object of his secret desire. Most heterosexuals don't think about gays, and certainly don't want to deny them basic civil rights.
<div class="idc-message" id="idc-comment-msg-div-440691702"><a class="idc-close" title="Click to Close Message" href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(440691702)"><span>Close Message</span> Comment posted. <p class="idc-nomargin"><a class="idc-share-facebook" target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthenewcivilrightsmovement.com%2Fgop-congressman-it-should-be-legal-to-fire-someone-because-they-are-gay%2Fpolitics%2F2012%2F05%2F14%2F39539%23idc-container#IDComment440691702&t=I%20just%20commented%20on%20GOP%20Congressman%3A%20It%20Should%20Be%20Legal%20To%20Fire%20Someone%20Because%20They%20Are%20Gay%20%7C%20The%20New%20Civil%20Rights%20Movement" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="idc-share-inner"><span>Share on Facebook</span></span> or <a href="javascript: IDC.ui.close_message(440691702)">Close MessageSuch a sad confused soul….Was he not taught the teachings of Jesus? He who is without sin, throw the first stone….The good Lord teaches us to love and forgive. To judge not lest we be judged. Poor Mr. Langford, I shall pray long and hard for your misguided soul. May god have mercy on you!
Usually, people who think it is a choice are people who are fighting their own battle with being gay….They think as long as they deny their feelings and act in a straight life style they are really ok….
denial is not a river in Egypt….These are the truly sad sick humans.
Being gay is not a choice. Being uninformed, unsympathetic, and unwilling to think critically ARE choices. Just not very smart ones for legislators.
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