It is an act of violence to deny rights to whole groups of people rights based on a characteristic. It is violence to demean and dehumanize, to ridicule, torment, attack and stigmatize.

It is not violence to call such behavior wrong, to demand through legal means that it cease, to seek redress and respect.

On both sides any physical attacks to people or property should be rejected, but merely to stand up for sanity and decency is hardly fomenting violence, regardless of how unhappy it makes the original perpetrator to be called out on their activity, exposed for their bigotry or have their business boycotted.

Whining and moaning about the (foreseeable) backlash they are now receiving is stupid — they should have thought about the consequences before deciding to legislatively hurt their fellow Americans. If they believe so deeply in their position, they’ll take it like a martyr. But that isn’t the Christian way anymore, it seems.

Dan is right about one thing, tolerance is a two-way street. When the religious right starts showing some, I’ll be the first to applaud. But up till now, it’s been a one way street, with all the power to design, legislate and impose intolerance going in a pretty obvious direction.

Another thing, which seems to be a frequent tactic of the newly challenged religious right: claiming impingement of freedom of speech. I wish they would actually read the 1st Amendment once in a while.

Freedom of speech refers to the right of citizens to be free from government curtailment of their speech/assembly, not from fellow citizens or other institutions. Besides, no one’s freedom to express religious belief has been questioned, challenged or curtailed. They can go right on being hateful bigots if they want to, in their own homes, churches, schools, etc. But they do not control the public sphere. Gays and their allies will no longer allow themselves to be walked on and given second class citizenship.

Further, the documents founding this country clearly protect the minority from the majority. There is no “majority rule” in this country. I think they teach that in 4th grade.

Granted, the majority imposes its will through social norms and other non-legislative means. But, throughout our history, the progressive view has always won in the end, and this time won’t be any different.

As for changing people’s mind through peaceful persuasion, how about those who promoted and voted for this law do that, instead of meddling in other people’s lives and taking away their rights, which has serious consequences in real lives of real Americans.

Peace.