Negligible Knowledge Base

MAJeff, guest-blogging at Pharyngula, The “problem” is our existence:

The Times blogger is right: the anti-gay folks are careful to avoid showing their true colors; they work very hard to hide the anti-gay animus that drives them. But, lurking beneath the surface of their “We only want to protect marriage” lie is a deep and abiding hatred of queer folks and our communities. Their problem isn’t that we want equal access to the same rights our heterosexual counterparts have. No, their problem is that we exist at all.

When folks come out and say they’re opposed to discrimination against people but actively foster such discrimination, they’re lying. They are pro-discrimination.

[emphasis added]

I think I’ve made it very clear what I think about people who want to tell others how to live their lives. I’ve also tried to make it clear where I stand on this issue. Ultimately, however, the issue is freedom. Like it or not America is a secular nation founded upon secular ideals and the notion of freedom. (The fact that it is precisely because this is a secular nation that they have the right to practice the religion of their choice in the manner they choose is far too often completely lost on the fundagelical crowd).

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “This is America and the majority should rule, because that’s how democracy works.” Well, that’s true, but we don’t technically have a democracy–America is a representative republic, and the distinction, I think, is important. Personally, I think this sums up the distinction quite nicely:

It’s amazing how few people understand that the Constitution is there to protect us from democracy—you don’t want the majority to rule. If the majority rules then it’s illegal to be [in any way different]… What you want is a democracy that has safety measures for nuts—that’s all they were doing. The Constitution is essentially saying “we’re going to let the mob rule, but we’re going to protect these particular whack-jobs. And that’s why your whack-jobs always love the Constitution and your mob always loves democracy.

— Penn Jillette, Penn Radio Podcast of November 6, 2006

Yeah, I love the Constitution and I simply don’t see any way to view this issues as anything other than an Equal Protection issue. The government issues a license for marriage, for crying out loud! Come on, people. Aren’t we sick of hearing the same old recycled garbage arguments in favor of denying our fellow citizens equal rights?

Today it’s gay marriage, fifty years ago it was interracial marriage, but nothing’s changed. We still hear the same fallacious arguments about how this is the downfall of our culture and the very world will come to an end and all will be destroyed and how it will somehow cheapen or lessen the institution of marriage, blah, blah, blah. Fear, prejudice, intolerance–whatever the motivation the net result is discrimination. And, cloaking the discrimination in terms of “god” just makes things worse. While I’m on a Penn Jillette roll, let me throw this one at you:

Wait a minute—where are you getting this information? The point of religion is to hate people with different religions. I mean, if you’ve read the Koran or the Bible or the Torrah, they all say that those who do not accept the real God are heathens and infidels and should be at least banished, if not punished. There’s no idea behind religion of acceptance—if anything, the idea of acceptance is an American Secular idea.

— Penn Jillette, Penn Radio Podcast of March 23, 2006

Here, here.