This letter responds to Elodie Pritchartt’s “Chicken Little” letter outlining a litany of discriminations that will flow from HB 1523, the non-discrimination, religious-liberty bill signed by the governor last week. Rest assured, the sky is not falling.

Ms. Pritchartt evidently has not read the law, or she is falsely demonizing it to further the frenzy of howls and name-calling that has become the predictable tactic of the militant left, a la Saul Alinsky (particularly Rule 12 — pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it).

Let’s deconstruct her dire warnings and look at the facts.

1. Denial of birth control because of “some sanctimonious pharmacist.” False. The law does allow denial of “fertility services.” Google the term. It means services, including in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, third party donors, and surgery, all to help the patient become pregnant, not to prevent pregnancy. Birth control is an anti-fertility product. Beside this distinction, consider the rational reality. If one pharmacist denied this product, two-dozen others nearby would provide it in a heartbeat.

2. Denial of housing based on race. False. Nothing in the law remotely deals with race. This is laughable. Read Section 8(1) of the law. Then look up and read the Federal Fair Housing Act (there are some exemptions, but also read the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co. (392 U.S. 409 (1968)).

3. Denial of gasoline. False. Nothing in the law pertains to providing or withholding gasoline. The law does include limousine or other car rental services for wedding events, but not fuel. So fill ‘er up. And like the rogue pharmacist, if one gas station denied fuel (how exactly would that happen, since all stations are now self-service?), a dozen others nearby would be available. This one truly is a meteorite from outer space.

4. “It’s about LGBT [sic] who simply want to live their lives without meddling busybodies judging them for what they do in the privacy of their own homes.” Go for it. Nothing in this law remotely relates to this concern. That’s exactly want Christians want, too. Non-discrimination based on deeply held beliefs. Live and let live. We don’t bring the heavy hand of government penalties onto you for standing by your moral code, and you don’t do the same to us. That’s real tolerance and real diversity. Ironic, isn’t it?

5. This law protects religious freedom while having zero impact on your freedoms. Yes, we can choose our churches, just as you can choose yours or none at all. But you can’t force us to participate in your lifestyle, and we can’t force you to participate in ours (we don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to, anyway). If you deny, that’s fair and non-discriminatory, then you have another agenda. Just be honest about it, please.

Better yet, stop the hate, stop the intolerance, stop the madness of trying to force your morality on others, even to the extent of using state discrimination to destroy their businesses and lives. We don’t hate you. We respect your right to live your life as you see fit. You’re very likely a decent person beneath the veneer you project.

Live and let live. Now, breathe deeply. It’ll be ok. Mississippi is a beautiful state.

 

James Wallace

Starkville