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Discrimination under the banner of freedom is on the rise again.

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How, you may well ask, did a dispute over pizza and cake lead to a question about the nature of freedom? Food and for that matter, drink havent exactly played a leading role in the construction of the so called free world, but theyve always been lurking in the background. There was the Boston Tea Party. Let them eat cake, tower-haired posho Marie Antoinette probably didnt say. Ich bin ein Berliner [a doughnut], JFK definitely did say. This time around, freedom is being called into question at a pizzeria in Indiana and a bakery in Belfast.

Last year, a Christian-owned bakery refused, kind of predictably, to make a cake that celebrated same-sex marriage. Finally, last month, the discrimination case brought against Ashers Baking Company went to court. Meanwhile Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party have been happily beavering away at some legislation that would protect businesses exactly like Belfasts most reactionary confectioner from having to relinquish their religious principles to the evil Gay Agenda. Thats to say, the DUP want to officially legalise discrimination against LGBT people by businesses.

Also last month, owners of a pizzeria in the American Midwest whined about being persecuted into niceness. The owner of Memories Pizza in Indiana isnt just rubbish at coming up with restaurant names, shes also quite rubbish at not being bigot. And the fact that she thinks a gay couple would allow somewhere called Memories Pizza to cater their big day certainly hints at her never even met an actual homosexual. Whats more, fictional Indiana stateswoman and friend ogays Leslie Knope would most likely be ashamed of the (now amended) corresponding religious freedom bill which threatened to legally entrench anti-gay discrimination in that state.

Aside from being small businesses run by even smaller minded people, what the UK bakery and US pizzeria have in common is their dependence on discrimination in the guise of freedom. In several US states, religious freedom bills are threatening to override anti-discrimination ones. The idea that business owners should be free not to accommodate LGBT people, on moral grounds, is right at libertarianisms core. The spate of religious freedom bills are an important reminder that this is a political philosophy that favours the rights of bullies over their victims. Its about the right to shoot over the right not to be shot and the right to be an utter bastard over the right to not have to suffer utter bastards.

Right-leaning LGBT people drawn to libertarianism for its supposed social liberalness, especially those voting in next years US presidential election, need to take a much closer looks at whose interests Republican senators like Rand Paul represent. Paul, a reasonably hardcore libertarian and presidential hopeful, is no proponent of gay rights. In a 2013 TV interview, when asked about his position on gay rights, Paul said, I dont really believe in rights based on your behaviour. Except, of course, when it comes to the behaviour of gun owners. Or the behaviour of racists and homophobes. Republican in not giving a fuck about gay rights shocker isnt going to appear on any front pages soon, but its essential that libertarianism isnt seen as the cuddly (as cuddly as anything inspired by Ayn Rand can be) sort of conservatism.

Bryan Fischer, head of the fundamentalist Christian American Family Association, recently tweeted that something called Big Gay is trying to restrict religious freedoms. Big Gay. Like Big Oil, or Big Pharma. I hope Im not alone in finding this new term for the gay agenda more precious than a hedgehog in a tutu. And Id personally like to thank Fischer for giving me the opportunity to tell people, I work for Big Gay. It sounds so much better than, I lie in bed writing down words, eating Mini Cheddars and trying to masturbate as little as humanly possible.

The fact is though that Big Gay exists. And thank fuck for that. Freedom to discriminate is a funny sort of freedom. Id like to say its the kind that could only exist in a country where you can buy ammunition from supermarkets, but we have a fair bit of it in the UK too, as proven by the Belfast gay cake debacle. Meanwhile, LGBT activist group All Out have nearly reached their goal of 300,000 signatures for a petition aimed at blocking the DUPs proposed anti-gay amendment. Nice work, Big Gay.

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Discrimination under the banner of freedom is on the rise again.

Religious Freedom in Indiana Attacked By Famous, Rich Liberals | ZoNation – Video

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Religious Freedom in Indiana Attacked By Famous, Rich Liberals | ZoNation
Famous, rich, wealthy, influential liberals, from Cher to Kareem Jabbar using their status to oppose RFRA. They #39;re cultural icons, who #39;s backward world view is valued by millions. Also here #39;s...

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Religious Freedom in Indiana Attacked By Famous, Rich Liberals | ZoNation - Video

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"SURFER EXO" - NOW AVAILABLE - Get The Surfer Exo For Free (AW MICRO DLC) - Video

Pence signs 'fix' for religious freedom law

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Top Indiana Republican lawmakers overhauled their week-old religious freedom law Thursday with a follow-up measure intended to ease concerns driven by businesses that it could lead to discrimination. Gov. Mike Pence then signed it into law.

The changes appear to have tamped down some of the criticism -- but in doing so Pence and lawmakers infuriated social conservative activists and set the stage for a bigger fight next year over expanding Indiana's anti-discrimination law to cover gays and lesbians.

Republican legislative leaders unveiled their series of changes Thursday morning to the law that triggered intense backlash from businesses, sports associations, pro-LGBT groups and even fiscally-focused conservatives when Pence signed it last week.

The GOP-dominated House and Senate approved a legislative fix, which was added into an unrelated bill, on Thursday, sending it to Pence's desk almost immediately.

Despite last-minute lobbying from conservative groups like Indiana Right to Life to get Pence to veto the fix, the governor signed it Thursday evening.

"In the midst of this furious debate, I have prayed earnestly for wisdom and compassion, and I have felt the prayers of people across this state and across this nation. For that I will be forever grateful," Pence said in a statement.

"There will be some who think this legislation goes too far and some who think it does not go far enough, but as governor I must always put the interest of our state first and ask myself every day, 'What is best for Indiana?'" he said. "I believe resolving this controversy and making clear that every person feels welcome and respected in our state is best for Indiana."

The changes prohibit businesses from using the law as a defense in court for refusing "to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing" to any customers based on "race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service."

It doesn't accomplish what the law's critics wanted most: Adding sexual orientation to the list of categories protected by Indiana's anti-discrimination law.

But that debate, GOP legislators acknowledged, is coming soon. House Speaker Brian Bosma said the backlash against the religious freedom law has "opened many perspectives" and that the anti-discrimination law "needs to be discussed."

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Pence signs 'fix' for religious freedom law

Tougher policy on freedom campers?

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A tougher stance on freedom campers could be on the way for Dunedin following a recommendation from council staff.

The Dunedin City Council's planning and regulatory committee will next week vote on whether to approve a review of the city's camping control bylaw and responsible camping policy.

The vote comes after the council's stance on freedom camping and a two-year trial allowing non-self-contained freedom camping at sites in Macandrew Bay, Ocean View Reserve and Warrington has prompted concern among people living in those areas.

Council reserves and recreation planning team leader Richard Saunders recommended the committee review both the policy and the bylaw.

Mr Saunders said a common approach was for councils to include a schedule of restricted and prohibited sites in freedom camping bylaws.

Any move towards more controls would need to be backed up by appropriate resources allocated to enforcing the new rules and dishing out fines, he said.

Enforcement could be carried out by permanent staff or contracted to security guards - which due to the seasonal nature of the work could be the best option.

The experience of the Queenstown Lakes District Council suggested enforcement would be cost-neutral, with costs offset by revenue from fines.

Otago Peninsula Community Board chairwoman Christine Garey hailed the recommendation as ''huge progress'' and was confident the committee would support a review of the policy.

Whatever policy the council came up with, it needed to back it with resources, Ms Garey said.

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Tougher policy on freedom campers?

Freedom Fest in La Crosse unveils musical lineup

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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) -

Organizers of Freedom Fest unveiled the musical lineups for this years event.

Heart and Phillip Phillips, the winner of the 11th season of American Idol, will perform on Saturday, July 18 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. "The Remainders" will also perform.

This will be the eighth year of the event, which benefits veterans causes in Wisconsin, including raising money for area veterans attending college.

Organizers said they are happy with the size of Freedom Fest.

I don't want to get it where it's so large where you really lose the meaning of the event," said LHI Founder and CEO Don Weber. "It's a special festival to honor special families and people."

In between the headline acts, scholarship recipients will be recognized and Weber will give a moving tribute to Wisconsins Fallen Heroes, the men and women who have given their lives in service to the U.S. Military.

So far the event has raised nearly $400,000 and awarded $118,000 in scholarships for returning service members pursuing an education at a University of Wisconsin System institution.

Organizers hope to avoid any inclement weather this year. Last year's event, which was held on Father's Day weekend, was stopped halfway because of storms in the area.

Tickers will be available starting May 1 at area Festival Foods stores and on the Freedom Fest website, http://www.freedomfestlacrosse.com.

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Freedom Fest in La Crosse unveils musical lineup


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