Dear Kansas,
What the actual hell. I’ve never really heard of a state and immediately cringed in disgust, but then I heard of you. More specifically, I heard of that law you’re trying to pass. Y’know, the one where you’re trying to make it legal for a business to deny homosexual couples service based on your religious beliefs? And even people working for the state can deny gay customers service because of their religion? Yeah. That shit ain’t cute. That shit’s downright discriminatory.
Now, listen. I get that you love your big book, and that’s totally fine. Yeah, I’m an atheist, but am I gonna deny you service just because you’re a religious zealot? No. You’d probably call the cops on me in an instant. But that’s besides the point. You need to understand that my (hypothetical) partner and I, in no way, affect your religious convictions. Well, at least, we shouldn’t. If you’re a Christian, I do believe you’re supposed to “love thy neighbor as thyself, and there is no greater commandment than this”. That’s what Mark 12:31 says. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the First Constitutional Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” I’m just saying – you might want to double check your facts and look at the two defining documents of your belief systems.
It’s not just you, Kansas. Even the United States, with all our freedoms and abilities, is a bit of a hypocrite. How can we mock Russia for their anti-LGBT laws, when we ourselves aren’t even halfway towards equal rights in every state. There are still 29 states where you can be fired for being gay. Of course, you’re one of them, K-Dawg. You’re just rolling in that inequality. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to LGBT issues in America. Why are trans*-identified people constantly kicked out of their homes and abused, simply because their genetic make-up didn’t get the hint about their correct gender? Why are gay men still not allowed to give blood, simply due to their sexual preference?
While I can’t place the full blame on you, Kansas, I’ve got to say – I’m pretty disgusted with your potential law, the politicians who’re moving it through the state government, and even the people who voted those politicians into power. You are the people who are on the wrong side of history. You are discriminating against love, against a man or woman’s pursuit of happiness, which is a constitutional right. By refusing service to these people, you allow for more toxic hate to fill this world. You ignore the basis of what this country was built on – that church and state should be two separate entities that shouldn’t affect each other. You ignore the basis for your Christian religion – that you should love the people around you, and not judge them, as God is the only one who can do so. You ignore the factual evidence that proves that homosexuality is not a choice, that we are actually born this way, that we do not choose to be tormented and bullied and belittled by people like you. Why would anyone choose a life of pain, of segregation, of less-than-human treatment?
Now, before I leave you and hope that you learn from this shameful bullshit, I have some solid advice for you. It was advice that I once shared with my old friend Colleen, that almost got me detention with my history teacher, until he read my note and laughed. This is what that note said:
“Religion is like a penis. It’s nice that you have one and all, but don’t whip it out in public, and don’t shove it down my throat.”
And with that, Kansas, I ask that you please get your head out of your ass and stop being a backwards idiot.
Sincerely yours,
Jayanne
The Lesbian Perspective 