When it comes to human rights, how much have we really changed? Women are still compensated much lower than men, racism still exists in all facets of our society, and the LGBT community is still the victim of many acts of prejudice.
Just a few days ago, Just Cookies, a bakery in Indianapolis, refused to bake cupcakes for the gay community at Purdue University, who were going to use the cupcakes for their celebration of next month's National Coming Out Day. Although the bakery is located in the City Market, which is an equal accommodations establishment, owner David Stockton stated the following to justify his prejudice:
"We're a family-run business, we have two young, impressionable daughters and we thought maybe it was best not to do that."
What does that even mean? “Best not to do that”? Really? I mean what could possibly happen from baking some cupcakes? Is David worried that his daughters will turn gay from doing business with the local gay community? Or is he worried that his daughter might actually learn to be accepting of the gay community? Whatever the reason, his actions are very inappropriate.
This situation really grinds my gears. I really can’t seem to get past it. Growing up, I was afforded a very accepting childhood, so dealing with ignorant and close-minded people is very painful (please excuse my frustration).
America, can we please get it together. We pride ourselves in this country as the land of the free, but when it comes to providing equal rights and doing away with discrimination, we like to turn the other cheek. Honestly I was under the impression that we had made some major strides in the past 50 years, but it seems that it was nothing more than just small step in the right direction. Small steps are not enough. We need to take incidents like this one more seriously; we should boycott such institutions, making a public statement that we as a nation do not accept this behavior.
In the words of the Dali Lama,
"All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured . . . We must, therefore, insist on a global consensus, not only on the need to respect human rights worldwide, but also on the definition of these rights . . . for it is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for freedom, equality and dignity, and they have an equal right to achieve that."
A little closer to home, this is not any different than a student at King Hall removing Lambda's material from all public view two weeks ago. I would hope that in such a high minded institution that such (cowardly) bigotry wouldn't happen. But honestly, it didn't surprise me that much. America is homophobic. It is evident in my daily reality. As a visibly queer person, I am harassed on the street sometimes every day. Even in San Francisco, the gay capital. The subtle violence of refusing to serve gay customers like Just Cookies did or removing gay agenda items like the unnamed person at King Hall did, and the violence that myself and other LGBTQ persons face in all arenas of our lives are inexcusable. I am with you, it is time we step up our value system and treat others with dignity and respect.
ReplyDeleteMake up of their moral fabric to deny service? They are JUST COOKIES!
ReplyDeleteIt is unacceptable and sad that this still happens. And even more shocking that it can happen everywhere, even King Hall. However, I am comforted by the fact that it has been recognized that these kind of value judgments and personal views should not and will not be tolerated, especially by officials. The mayor's office in this case and Dean Kulwin's email to the King Hall community leaves me with hope that we are still making strides.
Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this kind of behavior still shocks me every time it happens. I guess I was naive about the fact that there is still so much bigotry, even at public universities in California. It happened at my undergrad school and again here in Davis. I grew up in a very accepting place and took that environment for granted.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand the mentality behind these kinds of actions. No one is asking the owners of Just Cookies to change their way of life/values -- is it so much to ask them to treat everyone equally? Other people's personal lives/beliefs are none of their business and if Just Cookies continues this kind of unacceptable behavior they don't deserve to have a business!
My reaction to this obvious discrimination is how stupid this business is. JUST COOKIES IS JUST WRONG!
ReplyDeleteI am proud to be a Bay area democrat. We welcome everyone inside our tent. Diversity is celebrated. If this happened in the Bay Area, Democrats would unite and boycott this business and give all our baking business to the competition.
This is a call to action for that community to voice disaspproval of these kind of prasctices by voting with the pocketbook.