On Nov 19, 2003, at 8:53 AM, Steve Nelson wrote:
And since discrimination is against the law the city should not be spending
our tax dollars on any business that practices it.
Then there would be no one doing business with the City. <All> employers discriminate when hiring.
To exclude a contractor on the basis of his or her moral or religious
beliefs is a violation of fundamental liberty: applying a religious test
to bid on a government contract, which amounts to a violation of Article
I, Section 16 of the Minnesota Constitution. If a contractor wishes to
provide benefits to same sex couples, that's their business. But to
disqualify an otherwise qualified contractor on the basis of their
beliefs is de facto bigotry.
There has always been a divide between private and public practice. When
one carries one's bigotry into one's workplace--especially in the role of
employer--their private beliefs become fair game. We no longer permit
discrimination against Blacks, Jews or the Irish and it is about time that
someone's sexual preference is off limits as well.
Being Black, a Jew, or Irish is not a behavior, it is being a member of a race, religion, and nationality. Homosexuality is a behavior. Please reread my statement above.
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On Nov 19, 2003, at 11:13 AM, Jim Bernstein wrote:
>By law, no potential contractor can be excluded because of their >religion (or absence of it).
But:
>If ones "moral values" include denying benefits to employees based on
>gender, age, marital status, race, or sexual preference then one can
>simply decline to bid on contracts let by government agencies or private
>firms that require that compliance.
We are addressing behavior, and gender, age, marital status and race are not behaviors.
>An individual has a right to their own "moral beliefs" but that does not
>mean that one is entitled to demand that someone else - especially a
>public agency - reward them for it.
Awarding a contract is based upon objective criteria, not upon excluding them because religious dictates require the bidder <not> hire persons whose behavior the employer finds immoral.
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On Nov 19, 2003, at 4:27 PM, WizardMarks wrote:
Well I certainly agree that one's moral beliefs should not be rewarded,but isn't that what this contract requirement does?
>WM: Uh, no, it does not. [...]
Uh, yes, it does. If a bidder doesn't agree to the extension of benefits to homosexual couples, the bidder is then excluded, and the bidder who believes in extending benefits is rewarded by winning the contract, or at least being allowed to bid.
Neal Krasnoff Loring Park
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