http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=403815&in_page_id=1770
Excerpt:
South Wales police admitted evangelical Christian Stephen Green was then charged purely because his pamphlets contained anti-gay quotations from the Bible.
Mr Green faces a court appearance today charged with using 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour' after his attempt to distribute the leaflets at the weekend 'Mardi Gras' event in Cardiff.
A spokesman for the police said the campaigner had not behaved in a violent or aggressive manner, but that officers arrested him because 'the leaflet contained Biblical quotes about homosexuality'.
Our new Hate Crimes bill uses verbage that includes the word perceived which is a slippery slope. I personally think gays should be afforded civil unions, however if my fellow brethren would like to have free speech about this matter, they most certainly should be able to safely and legally. Thoughts? US soon?
2007-12-03 21:04:48 · 5 answers · asked by Loosid 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Rocco: I dont think heterosexuals should be "married" by the state anyways. All they are is civil unions. I believe Churches should maintain marriage as this word has come from religion and keep whats secular, secular :) Civil Unions for all!
2007-12-04 04:25:06 · update #1
I couldn't agree more. And for those who think this doesn't effect them, Dawkins' book just got banned in Turkey under similar hate crime legislation.
2007-12-03 21:14:57 · answer #1 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree. This is a slippery issue and where the line gets drawn needs clarification. I think that person should be able to have free speech and hand out their literature if they aren't being violent, hateful, or disruptive to people who were there to have fun. Although I disagree myself with their point of view I strongly believe in free speech. It is sometimes hard though to say where one person's right to express their free speech ends and the other's not to have to listen to something they aren't interested in or disagree with begins. I don't think Christians going to a gay pride meeting and yelling scripture condemning gays is right. The whole get together was for the gay people. It is no more right than if gay people showed up at a Christian get together or church and ruined it by yelling slurs at the Christians. I think both groups should be refrained from this sort of behavior and of course any violent or threatening behavior or speech.
I think this person in your example sounds like they were within their rights though as it doesn't sound like they were "threatening, abusive, or insulting" so they were not following the guidelines of the law when they arrested him.
2007-12-03 21:18:11 · answer #2 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am gay and generally support hate crimes legislation.
However, I think this person's arrest a bit extreme.
I too was a victim of poorly worded law when I was fired from a job after 14 years for "sexual harassment." It was all in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately the way the laws was written I could not even fight it. Ironically I tried to use the fact that I was gay as a defense, since i was "in the closet" at the time. I would be more likely to "sexually harass" some guy. They wouldn't believe me!
I am all for GOOD and well written laws.
As to CIVIL UNIONS they are an affront to everyone gay. It is just another way to label us as second class citizens.
Why can't our relationships be afforded the same dignity and respect as yours? I for one will never be satisfied until we are allowed to be married!
2007-12-03 23:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by roccopaperiello 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm against all thought crimes.
That's part of free speech.
But I will say this- 20 years ago, I stopped going to Mardi Gras in my own hometown of New Orleans because of the tens of thousands of evangelicals pestering people who just wanted a party. THEY should be arrested, as they are very aggressive. I understand they've gotten worse.
2007-12-03 21:13:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
darling you are entitled to your beliefs as is anyone
but when you are going to a Gay pride day with the intent to hand out anti homosexual leaflets .... that is more than just having your beliefs wouldnt you say ?
did they think they were going to be warmly accepted on such a day ?
why not hand them out at church or at religious festivals etc ?
the arrest was probably made in order to keep the peace
had they let this man continue to give the leaflets out ... it may have resulted in a less harmonious day
but yes I do think it was a little extreme though
2007-12-03 21:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋