More Anti-Discrimination E-Petitions

[kevin_standlee]

After I posted about e-Petitions, I was asked to pass this one on as well:

Petition to prohibit discrimination against transsexuals.

I understand from friends in the UK that this one is rather more important than the first one I passed along because, while the British government is apparently standing firm against demand from religious leaders that they be allowed to discriminate against gays and lesbians, the government is not prepared to extend the same protection to those whose gender is ambiguous or who have changed gender. Such people will still be at risk of arbitrarily being denied service in shops, restaurants, even education and health care.

As with the first, I'd be happy to sign it myself, but I'm not allowed to do so. But those of you with British citizenship or residency can, and I hope you will.

Comments

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I am constantly amazed that we seem to need laws to protect specific groups of people, when all we really should need is one that protects us all.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I wish a "one size fits all" law would work, but in practice, it seems obvious that it does not.

I'm afraid that without what some people call "special protection," you'll continue to see people denied access that I think you and I may take for granted, for no reason other than "I don't like that sort of people," where "that sort" could be anything they want to target: black, Asian, Muslim, Christian, gay, transgendered, science fiction fans, whatever.

In my opinion, it's madness for any religion to say, "Well, my religion says I should discriminate against X, so if you don't let me do so, you're oppressing me." I hope everyone reading this is intelligent enough to realize what a slippery slope that is.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Yeah. There's a difficult line to draw between allowing such beliefs and allowing the discrimination.

In the area of belief, I am bigoted against bigots. I try to be very careful though, to seperate my private and public dealings with them. Privately I don't want to befriend bigots, have them in my home, or otherwise have them around.

But know that I must deal fairly with bigots in all public arenas - whether they're Senator Warner or Joe Customer.

Most bigots don't understand the difference between the two arenas.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Pardon. That last line should start "Many..."