British Expatriate Network

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/wr_n...email_dc_3

Personally I think they have as much right to refuse to do business with this company as:

+ A landlord turns down a potential renter because they have pets
+ A company turns down a potential customer because they have bad credit

It's their right to deal with whoever they wish to.

And if the gays felt strong enough about their position surely they would refuse to do business with a company which was openly pushing the principles of Biblical marriage.

Strange how this report cropped up the day after the Democrats won the Senate, isn't it.

And why do people naturally assume that just because you don't want to deal with a particular demographic that you HATE them? I don't HATE gays. I just don't know any as friends, nor do I wish to know any. I have no wish to visit Portugal on holiday, doesn't mean to say I hate the Portuguese. I don't want to eat sauerkraut out of a can for lunch, doesn't mean to say I hate sauerkraut.

I think it is the firm's right to refuse to work for whoever they choose. However, they've now reaped some negative publicity from it although in Texas, perhaps it will get them some more customers that agree with them and want to support their stance.

The report is not strange at all. I have an Associated Press wire client on my PC at work and stories like this crop up all the time. There was one a few weeks back where a small restaurant in a red state was suddenly boycotted by the town after it began flying a rainbow flag. None of the owners were homosexual but the town decided that was the only explanation for the flag and decided not to eat there any more. The flip-side though was that the owner said everyone was welcome, including homosexuals and after that, I think he got some custom from those who heard about it and wanted to support him.

At the end of the day, if we are all so stupid as to waste time finding reasons not to like each other or not to work for/with each other, then **** all of us.

What the F has this got to do with the Senate?
Sounds like christian gay bashing.
Your example are also way off base.
There are rational reasons for landlords to refuse pets (if you don't understand what those reasons are I'll lend you my cats), and likewise a business may have a rational reason to refuse to do business with someone who has bad credit.

There is nothing rational about refusing to do business with someone because of their sexuality. It is about as rational as refusing to do business with them because of their gender, race, nationality or religious beliefs.

Finally, how do you know none of your friends are gay? Lets face it, with your attitude, I can imagine why they might want to stay in the closet.
:evil:

How can I make it clearer that I don't hate gays? Certainly not bashing them! I just don't want to deal with them. And I know my friends. And I respect any Christian's right to their beliefs, which are not to associate with people who are out of line with the Word of God.

:roll:

E17 - you cannot possibly know with any certainty that none of your friends are gay.
Ted Haggard and Mark Foley ring any recent bells.

You seem to be in denial.

How do you define "deal with them"?

At my work, we have "safe zones" where the workers have trained to be supportive to gays, lesbians, trans etc. and there is a small note in the work area that explains this. Now I don't necessarily subscribe to that and haven't bothered attending any of the workshops but on the other hand, I've worked for several years with various Rainbow organisations and clubs, as well as the recent Pride Cultural Centre which was set up here a couple of years ago.

The point is that they are just like anyone else I work with and I really can't understand why people would want to discriminate. If I really try hard to look for differences, I see generally more outgoing, courageous and often humorous people, not people to be avoided. Occasionally, they do overstep the mark, in my opinion, when they literally push their beliefs on to those that would rather just live and let live but on the whole, I think they just want to feel equal and who is to say they should not?

Sounds like some evagelical Christians and Red Sox supporters I've come across...

Rob, don't even try. I don't know who the people are you mentioned but my friends are well and truly straight. If I didn't know them that well, they wouldn't be my friends, just acquaintances. Simple as that. Not saying they would just be acquaintances because they are gay. Just saying if I don't know that much about them they are not my friends.

I am professional enough to work with someone as a co-worker, or a customer, without any problems as far as their race, religion, private life. But outside of work is a different story.

You don't know who Ted Haggard and Mark Foley are! :shock:
Where have you been hiding for the past few weeks?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Haggard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Foley

Of course, you could just be in denial.

I don't make a point of reading very deeply into the news and don't watch it much on TV.

You really didn't have to look too far...
http://forums.british-expats.com/viewtop...c&start=15

I saw that, knew it was about something I had not heard of, and moved to the next thread.

Remind me, which comandment states that you shall not bear false witness....

sure you did...
and this one:
http://forums.british-expats.com/viewtopic.php?t=21306