Sexual orientation bill threatens people of faith

To the editor:

With the arrival of 2006, Illinois' new law adding "sexual orientation" to the state's Human Rights code takes effect. While most media pundits laud its enactment, they ignore the implications of basing civil rights on changeable, wrong, and unhealthy sexual behavior.

Homosexuality—unlike skin color--is not a basis for civil rights. There are thousands of ex-"gays"; there are no ex-African Americans or ex-Hispanics.

Illinois' new law will be a boon for homosexual activist lawyers. Across the country, "gay" advocates place their "orientation" above the freedom of conscience of others who disagree with homosexuality. Several college Christian ministries that deny leadership posts to homosexuals because they believe homosexual behavior is sinful have been forced to fight charges of "discrimination"—thanks to campus "sexual orientation" codes similar to Illinois' new law.

In Canada, Christians who live out their biblical beliefs have racked up huge legal bills defending themselves against "sexual orientation discrimination."

Homosexual lobbyists cry tolerance but they really don't respect peoples' religious beliefs. If they did, would they demonize opponents of "gay marriage" as "rank bigots," to quote one top homosexual activist in our state?

But it's not just about normalizing homosexuality.

Illinois now becomes one of just seven states that provide special legal "rights" based on "transgendered" behavior. Thus the law will also be used to force businesses and even religious-based groups to accommodate extreme gender confusion—e.g., a male maitre d' at a restaurant who informs his employer that henceforth he will be coming to work dressed as a woman.

To preserve freedom in Illinois, we need to repeal this bad law, or at least start amending it by removing its most onerous provisions that threaten people of faith or anyone who opposes homosexual behavior.

Peter J. LaBarbera
Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute