News and Events => Religious news => Topic started by: Hazumu on January 09, 2008, 01:24:27 AM Return to Full Version

Title: Pastors Fight to Not Protect Gays
Post by: Hazumu on January 09, 2008, 01:24:27 AM
by Chris Dovi

Richmond VA Style Weekly (http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=16051)

"Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, a leading statewide lobbying organization for gay, lesbian and transgender issues, says the pastors' fears are overstated — and poorly thought out.

The federal hate crimes bill had a religious exemption, Mason says, and the hiring nondiscrimination bill was in line with the will of the people. She cites a recent poll showing 87 percent of respondents favoring an end to workplace discrimination.

"These groups are very ... intimidated by the fact that there's a growing fair-minded majority in Virginia and around the country," she says. "Protecting people based on their gender identity does not threaten their religion. That is a very American value. That's a very religious value. That's a very Virginia value.""

Karen