AFA Leader: Gays Not Right For Employment
Homophobic social conservatives spew some of the most vile bile.
Just consider what Gary Glenn, head of the American Family Association's Michigan outpost, told radio host Linda Harvey about why corporations shouldn't hire LGBT employees:
Herman Miller, which is a major employer and corporation in Holland, a furniture company, supported this so-called gay rights ordinance on the claim that it allowed them to attract the best and the brightest.
...
What ridiculous folly to suggest that only those individuals who engage in homosexual behavior given all of its severe medical consequences constitute the best and the brightest. It’s not really bright to engage in behavior that puts you at dramatically higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse and AIDS and cancer and hepatitis, and according to various sources, premature death. So to suggest that engaging in that type of behavior defines someone as the best and brightest, which seems to be the line coming out of corporate America, is just ridiculous.
Harvey of course concurred, and offered a spurious claim that same-sex relationships lead to more "domestic violence," and insisted, "I would not think of a homosexual person as a good employment risk, I just wouldn't."
Well, at least she referred to our personhood, rather than calling us "homosexual devils," or something.
what are these awful pictures you keep posting with stories?
andy come back, please!!!!!!
Posted by: who's_that_girl | Jul 6, 2011 8:24:54 AM
Hiring the "best and brightest" doesn't mean employers, like Herman Miller, only look for LBGT folk. Embracing all facets of diversity naturally allows ingenuity. Str8s, allies, as well as LBGTs, who wouldn't otherwise apply to companies with poor track records on diversity and equality, probably would reconsider, when they see more companies treating people as people. We all deserve to be treated equally. I've crossed path with the AFA folks in Michigan. They are a stubborn, misinformed lot. They never see the bigger picture. They only grasp the soundbites and words that support their hate.
Posted by: Redheadguy73 | Jul 6, 2011 9:23:51 AM
Any employer who creates a product or service which entails creativity (read: almost all employers) and then chooses to exclude LGBT persons from their employ is basically diminishing their quality of workplace and product/service.
Many ad agencies in the midwest do this as a rule and then wonder why they aren't getting the big accounts and can't grow. They want fantastically creative ideas but won't hire the very people who are responsible for them, time and time again. I'm not saying that non-gay people can't be creative, but we all know the best creative comes from the gay gene.
The fallacy of LGBT people having more disease, domestic violence, etc, is an old fear-mongering tactic. Sorry, it doesn't work any more and everyone sees through that crap.
Posted by: johnny | Jul 6, 2011 9:50:25 AM
Then I hope Glenn and Harvey are prepared to hire nothing but lesbian employees. WSW have the lowest rates of STDs compared to straight men and women, and gay men.
Posted by: luminum | Jul 6, 2011 10:27:34 AM
Bigots spew so much nonsense. What does your work performance have to do with who you love?
Posted by: SONNIE | Jul 6, 2011 11:07:02 AM
"behavior that puts you at dramatically higher risk of mental illness"?
Wait, so having gay sex turns people crazy? That's seriously the argument he's making?
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 6, 2011 11:23:59 AM
What I find funny about Holland, MI being in the news so much lately in related anti-gay news is that whole area is filled to the brim with LGTB folks
Posted by: Mitchell | Jul 6, 2011 11:27:31 AM
Given the evidence, I'd say the job with the dramatically highest rate of mental illness is being the head of one of these anti-gay "Family" organizations.
Posted by: bobbyjoe | Jul 6, 2011 11:31:26 AM
"Well, at least she referred to our personhood, rather than calling us 'homosexual devils,' or something."
The things they said are actually worse than if they called us "homosexual devils." Hiding behind the veneer of social responsibility and pseudo-scientific gobbledygook allow them to spew lies without anyone calling them on it.
Posted by: FML | Jul 6, 2011 1:18:55 PM
What about heterosexual fatties that engage in the risky behavior of overeating? Does this guy have any idea of the skyrocketing medical costs for people who are obese and develop heart disease or diabetes (not to mention needing their own hoverround to scoot their fat asses around).
All joking aside, why should you hire obese people if you're concerned about medical costs?? Is it ok if they're straight and fat?
Posted by: Mr. Fabulous | Jul 6, 2011 2:51:55 PM
It's funny from where I live in the midwest and thinking back about 10 years or so of all the times I've been interviewed by straight men and hoped that I wouldn't show too much gay flint in my voice. And still knowing by the end of the interview that he could tell I was gay, and then not getting a call to get the job. Or worse getting the job and feeling forced out because of who I am. It happens all the time, it's not supposed to, they would never let it happen in a situation where they could actually get in trouble for it. It just happens to us. I can't exactly call a lawyer and say "I think I was fired because I was gay". The law is set up so I should be able to, but I can't. Despite the fact that I have seen more than my fair share of discrimination in the work place.
Posted by: Mike | Jul 6, 2011 2:53:58 PM
Gay men are generally perverted and obsessed with sex. Their behavior is unnatural and repulsive to the rest of society (and will always be perceived as such). I wouldn't hire them either unless they had renounced homosexual behavior and the lifestyle.
According to the CDC men who have sex with men have a 44 to 86 times greater chance of contracting HIV/AIDS. Who wants to voluntarily work with one of those people? Also consider that in this country's earlier history they would be punished with death for their practices. What right do we have to judge the reasoning of earlier generations?
Posted by: JJ | Jul 6, 2011 3:32:09 PM
Johnny so true Their homophobia is always covered with fear tactics How else can they promote their HATE
Posted by: FunMe | Jul 6, 2011 3:33:09 PM
@ JJ Ok and thanks JJ for your most intelligent foresight, I now see the light - you can now go back into your little hole and do the things you do so well...
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Posted by: Mark | Jul 7, 2011 3:06:19 AM