We Don’t Serve Your Kind Here

Property rights and free enterprise are not topics on which this blog focuses, but I do what to say I support property rights and freedom of association as well as enterprise, which it seems to me should include a business owner's right to refuse to do business with someone, or hire, promote, demote, or fire anyone for any reason.

I also believe in equal protection under the law (which means restrictions on business owners should be equally applied) and in voluntary public civility.

With that in mind, I noticed Richard Fausset's report at LATimes.com involving a Tennessee state senator.

It's a still a free country.

I would hope so.

You are still free to preach against the alleged dangers of engaging in a homosexual lifestyle, as Tennessee state Sen. Stacey Campfield did recently.

But are you as free to preach about such things in, say, the workplace or a public school as someone is to preach the alleged benefits of engaging in homosexual behavior?

Campfield, a Republican who represents the Knoxville area, has gained notoriety among gay supporters in recent days for sponsoring legislation some call the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which would ban discussion of homosexuality in elementary and middle schools.

And here's where I say something else that is not the focus of this blog – I support the separation of state and school. That's the larger issue here – a state legislature micromanaging schools. However, if the legislature is allocating funds to those schools, shouldn't it have some say in whether the schools teach, oh, you know, math, science, reading, writing, history, etc. or all of the diversity of human sexuality? Sex education at those grades (and let's be honest, this is about sex) should be limited to reproduction (not an issue with homosexual behavior), the reality of STDs and how they can be spread, and what constitutes abuse or assault - not sexual orientations, fetishes, and relationship variations. Anyway, I'm not sure how the bill would be enforced. Homosexual behavior advocates would simply wink and use euphemisms.

His hometown newspaper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, reported that on Sunday, Campfield walked into the Bistro at the Bijou restaurant for brunch and was told he wasn't welcome by owner Martha Boggs.

"He's gone from being stupid to dangerous," Boggs told the paper. "It's just my way of standing up to a bully."

I believe Boggs should have that right as long as Campfield would have the right to refuse to serve anyone he didn't want to serve for any reason. The article mentions Campfield's recent statements on the origin of HIV, and I don't know if that is part of what Boggs had in mind when she said "dangerous", but I would like to know exactly how any of the statements or actions, stupid or not, are dangerous.

Boggs said the senator didn't say much, but "left graciously."

If the tables were turned, there would be demonstrations, threats, and lawsuits. and possibly a Broadway musical, major motion picture, and documentary, all demonizing the business owner and all lavished with awards.

Campfield stood by his assertions in a blog post and mused about his treatment at the restaurant:

"In the 60's my grandfather sat at the lunch counters with the blacks in Knoxville to help break up the segregation of the races. I guess some people still support segregation. Just segregation of thought. Some people have told me my civil rights were violated under the 1964 civil rights act in that a person can not be denied service based on their religious beliefs. (I am catholic and the catholic church does not support the act of homosexuality) I had not thought about that much.

"I just figured this is just another example of the open minded tolerant left. They claim tolerances for divergent points of view.....Until someone actually has one. Then they don't know how to handle it."

He got that right.

Campfield should be free to say what he wants.

Boggs should be free to run her business her way.