Another Oregon homobigot lawmaker steps forward

[JackBeck]

by: pam
Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 12:00:00 PM EDT

Joining Oregon State Senator Gary "violent backlash against gays" George in the homobigot brigade is Rep. Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), who added her pearls of wisdom on her support of a repeal of anti-discrimination legislation on the books that extended protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. KeizerTimes):

"Many of my constituents tell me they don't believe sexual orientation should be considered a protected class like race or religion," Thatcher said. "The new law has vague definitions of sexual orientation, which will lead to expensive litigation and there are already measures in place to deal with discrimination."

..Marylin Shannon, who served as a state senator from 1995-2001, said she asked Thatcher to sign onto the proposed initiative. The executive director of Let Oregon Vote, Shannon said that the legislature did not "represent the people when they ... gave protected status" based on sexual orientation.

"There are lots of people who choose to have different lifestyles, but they really should not be giving special employment opportunities just because of the way they live - it should be who they are," Shannon said.

And, wouldn't you know it, part of the argument for allowing discrimination is the old hoary fable that all gays are wealthy (where's my check in the mail from the Homosexual Agenda, Inc.?)

Thatcher said she's "not trying to send a message against anybody. "I just don't think that sexual orientation rises to the level of being a protected class," Thatcher said. "Simple as that."

Shannon also said that homosexuals and others who would fit into the sexual orientation category "are not in need of protection. "These people are not underprivileged," Shannon said. "They take more expensive vacations, drive nicer cars."

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4824

Wow. Sometimes I honestly do have to check to see in which century we actually find ourselves living.

[msongs]

1. wonder what religion these people espouse? probably a "protected class" one nt

[JackBeck]

2. She's got "special rights", after all. nt

[Taverner]

13. If she's a Christian, she does have special rights

[benddem]

3. I was hoping Shannon would disappear

after she lost the election. No such luck apparently.
on edit removed my name...thought I was answering an email.

[JackBeck]

7. She's still there in all her homophobic glory.

:patriot:

[OmahaBlueDog]

4. This is a frequent theme on Christian Radio

The "does not rise to a level of a legally protected class" argument is brought forward again and agin on shows like Focus on the Family.

I wonder, based on these comments and the comments made by the politician in Oklahoma, if evangelicals are putting pressure on politicans they support to come out more forcefully against the so-called "Gay agenda."

[JackBeck]

14. Even if they are, they are failing spectacularly.

Jr. was their only hope at pushing their agenda.

And there has yet to be a definitive result.

[OmahaBlueDog]

16. And that's why they may well sit this election out

The evangelicals have invested millions in the Republican Party. They have organized, mailed, and shown up to vote en bloc. They have done this since 1980. For all of their work, gays still have rights, abortion is still legal, there are no tuition tax credits or vouchers for private schools, there is not organized school prayer, evolution is still taught, porn is still sold, and there still is no amendment to prohibit flag burning.

They have stood in the way of legal gay marriage, and they have effectively crippled the NEA. Other than that, they've accomplished little.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. So teh gays are taking her vacationz and driving her carz?

She managed to get one thing right, but I doubt she realizes it.
"There are lots of people who choose to have different lifestyles, but they really should not be giving special employment opportunities just because of the way they live - it should be who they are," Shannon said.

Bingo! It's not about special opportunities for lifestyle choices. It's about equal opportunity based on who they are, not a "lifestyle choice."

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Man, I wish I could catch teh gay, just for the summer. Go somewhere nice this year in a better car.

Unbelievable how ignorant some people can be. Say, that actually IS a lifestyle choice.

[David__77]

6. I WISH I had a nicer car and better vacation!!

I'm gay, and haven't ever had a real vacation as a matter of fact. What planet is this?

[JackBeck]

10. 2001 Honda Accord.

I'm hanging on until it reaches "vintage" status.

[David__77]

11. Lol 2001 Honda Civic here. You're putting me to shame!

I, too, am keeping it till it dies. I toyed with the idea of getting newer S2000 last year, but then got some sense about it.

[Truth2Tell]

9. If I turn gay

will I get a nicer car? Is that part of the package deal? Cuz mine is kind of a junker now...

[bullwinkle428]

12. "people who choose to have different lifestyles" -

well, there it is in a nutshell, isn't it? :mad: :mad: :mad:

One simple phrase, containing two of the wingnut's favorite code words!

[JackBeck]

18. "Special rights" meme should soon be coming. n/t

[lightningandsnow]

15. "Not underprivileged"?

Tell that to the 1 in 3 street kids who are GLBT.

Bastards.

[MrsMatt]

17. They also have new toasters

or so I've been told.

[hulklogan]

19. What a jealous loser that Thatcher person is!

Did she have to go camping last summer instead of an Alaska cruise? And poor thing probably drives a 1998 Ford Taurus, I'd be bitter too.

Bitter, bitter woman.

[Toasterlad]

20. Apparently, I'm Doing Gay All Wrong.