For the hottest trend in right wing Christian homophobia look no further than the aggrieved Christian claim that laws which prohibit discrimination against gays are a violation of religious liberty. That's right folks, Jesus hates fags and because he does, Christians should be free to discriminate against them. And it's not that these fine, upstanding paragons of morality have anything against gays, no sireee. It's all about how selling stuff to gays makes the Christians complicit in dirty, filthy sin. True story. This is the rationale of Christian bakers, who, according to Todd Starnes, were forced to close their doors because they were getting hassled, by "militant" gays, over their refusal to bake a wedding cake for a sinful lesbian wedding. Not surprisingly, this latest "controversy," involving biblical marriage supporting Christians, was promoted by Fox & Friends which is the Fox sanctuary for aggrieved Christians regardless of denomination - as long as that denomination is conservative and very heterosexual Christianity.
Wednesday's segment began with the patented ominous music and the patented ominous dark cloud background over which the patented "Fight for Faith" phrase was superimposed. Jesus BFF Steve Doocy reported that an Oregon baker was "forced to shut its doors for being intolerant?" The chyon set the patented Fox "controversy" - "Cake Controversy, Baker Says No to Same-Sex Wedding Cake." He noted that a complaint had been filed after the bakery refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. He added "protests and threats soon followed." (Get the message - gays are intolerant towards good Christians) Jesus BFF and former Miss America Gretchen Carlson reported that the bakery "has called it quits."
After introducing her guests, the aforementioned Christian bakers, she asked them what, in their faith, compelled them to refuse to provide the cake. Aaron Kline said that he believes "that a marriage is between a man and a woman." As he spoke, the chyron reinforced the propaganda and the "controversy" - "Faith Under Fire? Controversy Over Same Sex Wedding Cake." In trying to show that these folks aren't biased, Steve Doocy noted that, in the past, they've baked cakes for gay people but they simply refuse to do gay weddings. He added that they "didn't refuse to serve gay people, simply the gay weddings." (Uh, distinction without a difference?)
Melissa Klein talked about how as Christians, "we believe in the bible." (Wonder if she's down with stoning adulterers?) The chyrons advanced the ain't it awful meme: "Closing Shop, Or Bakery Shuts Down Amid Same Sex Rift" and "Wedding Cake Controversy, Bakery Closes Following Threats Protests." Video was shown of peaceful protesters outside the bakery. She claimed that she "can't participate in the wedding" because of what the bible tells her which is that homosexual behavior is a sin.
Gretch spread somne sweet icing on the homophobic propaganda cake: "So that's your personal belief and that's your husband's personal belief and in this free country we would think that there would be tolerance for your beliefs and for people who disagree with you." She asked if the business had to be closed because of the protests. Aaron Klein claimed that there was a "lot of mean spirited stuff going on." He said that "tolerance should be a two way street." (So refusing to provide a cake to a gay couple is tolerant?) Doocy validated him with "it does seem like there is a double standard in your case." He read a short statement from the state Bureau of Labor and Industries. After Melissa Klein reflected that she's "having to be re-taught about her business," (?) she informed us that she's working out of her home and hopes for the best. Doocy said he hoped that the boycotts won't continue because "they were devastating."
As usual with Fox & Friends, the crux of the matter was deftly avoided. Neither Gretch nor Doocy mentioned that the bakers' actions appear to have violated the Oregon Equality Act which clearly states "that people cannot be denied service based on their sexual orientation." But according to the Orwellian world of Fox and Gretchen Carlson (and Todd Starnes) it's all about how those evil gays are really being intolerant when they exercise their right to file suit against what appears to be discrimination. So in extending Gretch's plea for "tolerance," I guess it's OK if a white baker refuses to provide a wedding cake for an interracial couple because mixed marriages are against the baker's religion? And if Fox & Friends weren't strictly about right wing propaganda, they could speak to the lesbians, who, allegedly, were called "abominations" by Aaron Klein.
If anything is an abomination, it's Fox & Friends which, when it comes to propaganda, takes the cake. Badda boom!
The author of this story has no clue. She says outright that she cannot even distinguish between being willing to sell a cake to anyone but not wanting to be part of the catering to a deviant event.
Tell me Priscilla, if the offended couple in the story were holding a KKK rally, would you still say that the bakers should have catered the event? You may be forced to sell to anyone, but you have the freedom not to associate with them.
Until then, sod off, you troll.
Jesus said so.