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The Gay Lobby Takes on eHarmony »
Posted by: stephen-johnson 2 years, 6 months agoBy Ross Kaminsky - The biggest problem with gay activism is that they want to be treated as special or as victims when it suits them, and as "just like anybody else" when it suits them. Indeed that is the problem with activists of many stripes, not just based on sexual orientation. In my view, they are not special, and although they have
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Comments: 323
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deathray
June 2, 2007, 10:37 a.m.To start, I believe that there is institutional prejudice against homosexuals in many parts of our society. This is not an example of that.
In defense of eHarmony, I don't necessarily think they need to provide services for gays. While I don't condone prejudice against homosexuals, I don't see how a private for profit service needs to service everyone, rather than a targeted audience. So many businesses are targeted to specific segments of the population in any event. It's what makes them able to best serve that particular community.
There are plenty of gay only match websites. Does that mean they should service members of the hetro community as well?
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birddog54Comment has been removed: User banned.
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bobo-in-texas
June 2, 2007, 11:07 a.m.This is the kind of nonsense that fuels the accusation by social conservatives that gays don't want equal rights, they want special rights. At the end of the day, I believe this woman's activism will be a negative in the advancement of gay rights.
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TomChicago
June 2, 2007, 11:12 a.m.eHarmony may be a private entity that markets to whomever it chooses, but the evangelical Christian roots of that entity should not go unnoticed. Their claims about not having the research to establish matching-models for gay couples is a bit beside the point. They don't have any research for those models because they had a bias against doing any.
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ETproductions
June 2, 2007, 11:23 a.m.There are arguments to be made that private, for profit businesses should not discriminate. The public services that business receive are payed for by all taxpayers. The roads their clients use to reach them and that trucks use to deliver their materials, the police and fire protection they receive, etc.
But it certainly seems within reason that a business be allowed to target a certain segment of people so long as there is no needless bias in the selection of that segment. For instance, recognizing the growing girth of the American public, there's a new furniture store that only sells specially designed furniture for people who way 400 pounds and upwards. I'm 5-11 and only weigh 160 pounds. I don't feel the least slighted by the business. I won't be shopping there, but there are plenty of stores that sell chairs that fit me.
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Hobe
June 2, 2007, 11:38 a.m.'The Gay Lobby Takes on eHarmony'
What's a Gay Lobby???
Are Rosi odonnal, Barny Franks, NJ x-governor Mc'greevie 'with a wife, children and male lover', Hillary, etc.. Gay Lobbies????
Please advise...
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Russencrantz
June 2, 2007, 1:56 p.m.Yeah, where do they get "Gay Lobby" from?
This is a single person, making a lawsuit... in California? This happens all the time. People can sue whomever they want, when ever they want.
Doesn't mean they're right, doesn't mean they'll win. This is getting blown way out of proportion, and I guarantee all of you, the gay community as a whole couldn't give a s**t if e-Harmony opens it's pages to gay users.
There are PLENTY of gay dating websites already.
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Mathusalum
June 2, 2007, 2:10 p.m.I think what I will do is find me a couple of "Gay only" dating services and sue them cause I'm heterosexual....maybe I'll get lucky and get me a little money. Better still, I should sue this Kosher food store in town because they don't sell Pork Rinds!
If I worked for a GM Dealership and drove a Ford, would they be able to fire me cause I didn't drive a GM Model? Better yet, maybe I ought to holler about the Viagra Commercials because they only show a Man and a Woman. What about two men?
C'mon America!....lets get a life!
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1-2-Oscar
June 2, 2007, 2:18 p.m.Neither the "Gay Community" nor any individual homosexual has a "right" to Christian approval. Nor could any court order mandating inclusion be adequately enforced. The court system of California, should it hear this case, would only be wasting the taxpayers' time and money in a futile effort to appease those who bring such frivolous legal actions.
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MacR
June 2, 2007, 2:39 p.m.So I guess that this will be the norm. If they do not cater to the gay community, I guess all those sites(groups) I see that says, Women only no men allowed will be fair game.
Those(groups) that say they only interact with gays will be fair game.
If you push the issue that you are being excluded and you have sites(groups) that only cater to your kind. Will see this happen to them. And that would be only par for the course.
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Larva
June 2, 2007, 4:54 p.m.As it has been pointed out many times already, gay-only dating sites exist. Of course, if anyone did decide to be cute and try to sue for discrimination for not offering services for hetero couples, the gays would once again play the victim, claiming that the complaint was not due to eqality, but hatered, label you a closeted homosexual self-hating bigot, and dismiss it entirely.
****** like this is the reason so many otherwise tolerant people still hate faggotry. Ass pirates are only interested in "equality" when they get the bigger half.
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hamy
June 2, 2007, 5:05 p.m.There is no such thing as teh gay lobby. There are groups of attorneys who are helping to right wrongs. This lawsuit is frivolous but remember, there are frivolous lawsuits in every walk of life.
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Harbeas
June 2, 2007, 5:20 p.m.I agree with the article totally. Because eharmony chooses to cater to only heterasexuals this does not imply they are discriminatory against gays. Throw the suit out and make the room full of gays pay for the court costs(excuse me, I mean the gay lobby).
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RedRiverJ
June 2, 2007, 6:11 p.m.Best way not to discriminate is to treat everyone the same. Equal, no one special, no one abused, all the same.
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EvelinVT
June 2, 2007, 7:26 p.m.They have every right to not include gays in their services and anyone who thinks differently is just plain stupid. Flip this in any other setting where there is a targeted audience and everyone will be singing a different tune not to change it. Why do gay people thinking they need some special rights? The only thing they deserve is the same as the rest of us - the essentials in life to live. None of us deserve anything more then that and until we all start realizing it we are going to continue to see this crap happen all the time. I'm sorry, but I do not agree with the gay lifestyle - no where in the Bible does it say it's ok - in fact it flat out says do not lay down with the same sex and God greatly punished people for this act. If the owners of eHarmony are Christan than that is their religious right to be against something that goes against their faith. If you don't agree then go elsewhere.
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Unlucky320
June 2, 2007, 8:39 p.m.When you go to a website, any website, and it doesn't offer what you want, you go to another website. Why don't the gays just open up a website called gayharmony? I as a hetrosexual female, wouldn't go there and pitch a fit because they didn't offer female looking for male. Please all this suing is getting out of hand, it's stupid, and the worst part is that she'll probably get some gay judge or some wanting to politically correct one and they will make eharmony pay or change their website, which is not fair, they might not want to match up gay couples. "eHarmony is a dating service founded by religious Christians..." If this is true then they should counter sue putting up the 1st commandment, "freedom of religion" as a defense.
Anytime a group of individuals don't get their way they always cry descimination. Hey guess what, everything is NOT about YOU.
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catstevensComment has been removed: User banned.
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preacher65
June 2, 2007, 9:45 p.m.This queer only wants to stir up a bunch of more hatred it has nothing to do with her wanting to find another queer. If she wants another women? then use the gay(queer) sites, there are plenty.
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nahual
June 2, 2007, 9:55 p.m.Perhaps gay businesses should start posting signs indicating that Christians are not welcomed in their businesses, heck why stop with gays businesses,anybody who is not in favor of Pentecostal and Evangelical Bible stompers should close their doors to Christian customers. Muslims and Jews should start keeping Christians Fundamentalist out of their shops and businesses.
Why not simply post Christians need not apply signs wherever a company or the owner of a business does not wish to hire Christians.
If a Christians business can openly discriminate against a particular group then why cant society discriminate against Christians?
Certainly the argument goes both ways, a private Christian business can discriminate agaist a particular segment of the population then Chritians should not be protected by law against discrimination by private businessses.
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nahual
June 2, 2007, 10:08 p.m.what makes the Chritians think they own the franchised rights on God and Jesus Christ?
What evidence is there that God is a heterosexual?
All this is is more homophobia veiled as Christians self appointed right to hate homosexuals
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nahual
June 2, 2007, 10:22 p.m.The laws protecting the freedom of religion applys to the Church as an Institution and those individuals associated with the Church when it pertains to the practice of their religious beliefs.It is the implied right to WORSHIP any GOD you wish to worship.PRIVATE BUSINESSESS are not protected by religious freedom protection Laws.a Jew cant refuse employment to a non Jew based on the Jews religious beliefs nor can a Jew refuse employment to a black person based on his religious beliefs or his racist feelings, a Mexican Restaurant cannot refuse services to a homosexual based on the owners religious beliefs. A private business cannot post a sign saying that homosexuals will be refused service upon entering.
If Christians can discrinminate against homosexuals in their PRIVATE businesses then racist whites should be able to bar blacks and other minorites from entering or accessing their PRIVATE businesses Why should Christians have the privilege to discriminate?
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david_nwpa
June 2, 2007, 10:44 p.m.Gay or straight, religious or atheist, perhaps the best way to date anyone is not by using your fingers and keyboard. Perhaps the best way is to get off your duff, get out to a night club, group meeting, gym, park, library, whatever setting you choose where other people mingle, and meet someone. Get over being shy and reserved or you will never meet anyone. If nothing else, unplug your computer and let eHarmony.com have its circle of heterosexual only exclusivity. Plenty of gay sites serve gays and lesbians better anyway, if that is what people insist on doing.
I really do not see why this has to go to court. Although their service could be construed as interstate commerce, nothing in the US code says that businesses cannot limit their client lists. After all, they are not providing housing, education or employment opportunities. Again, if someone who is gay or lesbian wants a website, plenty of other better ones exist.
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VTGuy
June 2, 2007, 10:56 p.m.It's amazing the amount of hatred people have!
Mr.Kaminsky uses "they" and "them" throughout his piece. He speaks as if all gays are in agreement with this lawsuit. He has valid points, however he cannot make such assumptions that "they","them" or "we" will all agree and jump on this! It's a weak case and will not go anywhere.
The bigger issue right now is this war...and how we need to end it!
I find it amazing that in this day and age there's people who still think homosexuality is wrong. Are we in 1950?
The majority of our youth have a very different take on homosexuality and don't see a problem with it and I thank God for them! They will change the course of our country and our world. When future historians look back at this time they will just laugh at all of us.
If it wasn't for the Gays and abortion the religious right would be working hard at getting women back into the kitchen, making babies and serving men.
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retbg
June 2, 2007, 11:09 p.m.As someone once said "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn". I am sick and tired of minority groups who get in my face over their so called "rights" to be treated the "same", all the while screaming about their "right" to be different. Gays, Blacks, Hispanics, Christians, Muslims, whatever, its getting damned tiresome. Be a different as you want - and take the consequenses! It's not all about you. Most of us really don't care one rat's ass about your petty complaints. We have our own problems and oh, by the way, nobody ever said life was fair. Suck it up and carry on Bunky.
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nahual
June 3, 2007, 12:10 a.m.why wonder Packerwood...go find a big dong and find out first hand! is that your favorite homoerotic fantasie packerwood, guys with big tools?
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