The Gay Lobby Takes on eHarmony »
Posted By stephen-johnson 1 year, 6 months ago in StyleBy 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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deathray1 year, 6 months ago
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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stephen-johnson1 year, 6 months ago
"I don't see how a private for profit service needs to service everyone, rather than a targeted audience."
That's pretty much what the author of the article said. The idea of government telling a business who their clients should send chills down the spines of business owners, especially small businesses. But if this case is sent to the Ninth Circus, a favorable ruling is certain.
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SusanParrishComment removed: User banned.8 Replies
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deathray1 year, 6 months ago
I think that eHarmony is a business, and the KKK is not, but if I'm mistaken, help me out.
There is another difference between eHarmony and the KKK and it is a legally subtle one; the case for prejudice by eHarmony is a weak one, because it is passive, and the case for prejudice by the KKK is a strong one, because it is active.
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shyanbelle1 year, 6 months ago
lmao... what a bright comparison.... how stupid can you really be? I'm just wondering what color the grass is in the land of loony?
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mesodude1 year, 6 months ago
"There are plenty of gay only match websites. Does that mean they should service members of the hetro community as well?"
Why, yes. How else are we to address the staggering dearth of opportunities for straight people to hook up? While we are at it, we should have a White History Month and a Men's History Month as well.
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birddog54Comment removed: User banned.
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GODIMMAD1 year, 6 months ago
Or that a woman should have a easier test to become a fireperson. Less weight, dont have to carry a person down stairs instead they can just carry their feet and let the head make its way down the steps. I support equal rights for all but special rights becuase you cant do a job or your not smart enough. Lets face it, we are all different in some way. The man vs women should only factor in when you need someone that can handle small parts better or if heavy lifting is required, not in the professional workplace. There should be no man v woman there. It should be about their talents that they bring into work.
Black are stronger by nature. Women do better with small items and tempures. East Indians are better with heights. Whites are just whites...We are the jokers of all trades, king of none...which is actually a plus for we dont have a given talent but rather we learn many. None of the above means all of one or another. Nothing is definate!
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TomChicago1 year, 6 months ago
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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deathray1 year, 6 months ago
I agree with the point. I believe that they have a bias against homosexuality, but they are not making any overtly prejudicial statements, as far as I can tell. I'm not sure what the legal basis for prejudice or service should be, but I don't think they should be forced to service a community for which they have no advocacy. If they were a public entity, I'd be on the other side of this issue.
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amazed1 year, 6 months ago
but that is their right as a private entity to have a bias against gays...just as you have a right not to patronize them because you don't believe as they do.
If they were gov't funded, it would be a whole different ballgame, but a business owner should have the freedom to define exactly what his business is. If the market doesn't like his definition of his businesss, then they should have the freedom to take their business elsewhere. They do not and SHOULD NOT have the ability to force the business owner to accept someone else's definition of what the business should be.
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nothingpetty1 year, 6 months ago
"but that is their right as a private entity to have a bias against gays..."
Change gay to black, Mexican, Japanese, Native Americans and see what you are advocating.
I believe that eHarmony is involved in an interstate business. Interstate commerce businesses ARE subject to certain Government Regulations.
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nahual1 year, 6 months ago
Then any private business owner should be able to discriminate based on his personal bias. No women, no black women, no males over 25, no mexicans, no fat people, no skinny people, no ugly people et cetera.
why should Christians be allowed to discriminate where as all other businesses have to comply to equal emploment laws et cetera.
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stephen-johnson1 year, 6 months ago
"eHarmony may be a private entity that markets to whomever it chooses, but the evangelical Christian roots of that entity should not go unnoticed"
They aren't - at least not by you.
http://gay.netscape.com/story/2007/05/31/suit-a...
Implicit in your observation is that there is something nefarious about eHarmonys founder's beliefs. It their beliefs and convictions that lead many people to take the risk of opening a business. If the Ninth Circus has its way, though, who goes into business for what reason will be subject to a veto.
The Founding Fathers must be rolling over in their grave over this one.
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earthlingerer1 year, 6 months ago
Exactly, Tom.
It's only that fairy tale book, the old testament, not the New Testament that hates gay people. This fairy tale book is the one quoted by hateful people who can't get along with their neighbors, or say cheeseburgers are bad for some stupid reason.
Jesus loves EVERYONE, if you read the book. Gay, straight, even Republican - if they finally say Jesus was right and they were wrong all their lives
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shyanbelle1 year, 6 months ago
LMAO They have people who went to school for many things who did the studies and have the paperwork still. So when you go spewing lies maybe you should include a bit of truth.
And yes, the Christian roots should go unnoticed, its a private company, if you don't like their agenda, DON'T GO THERE!
I don't support the gay sites, I don't go there, I don't spend money there, I won't ever click a banner to enter the site and give it just that one extra click a day and penny of revenue. Do the same and we'll all be fine.
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mcarpentry1 year, 6 months ago
Tomchicago, As with any PRIVATE business be with Christian roots or not the Government has no right to tell them how to run their business! When the judicial branch of the Government overules the the Executive or the people that have ELECTED the representatives of the Government there is something majorly wrong.
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ETproductions1 year, 6 months ago
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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amazed1 year, 6 months ago
exactly what are all these "public services" that business are receiving from the gov't at the expense of taxpayers.
I am a small business owner. I do NOT get municipal garbage pickup -- but I do at home. If I need police protection, I get billed for it. The amount of taxes I pay that are associated with my business on the federal, state and local level SOOO dwarf the taxes I pay on my private income (which coming from my business has already been taxed as profit -- at least in CT) that it is ridiculous. I really don't think my corporation is getting anything like a free ride from the gov't.
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amazed1 year, 6 months ago
Oh, and by the way -- those trucks using the roads -- they pay bigtime too. There are fuel taxes -- the truck co MUSt pay the fuel tax for the fuel used in each state regardless of where it was bought. SSRS -- did you know that truck registration is based on weight -- gets paid to each state they travel in and, while it might cost you $120 to register a car for two years, it generally costs my about $3000-- $5000 for one year's registration per truck depending on how heavy it is and how many miles I drove
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ETproductions1 year, 6 months ago
The point is they couldn't properly serve me, because they don't have what I need. If it is true that eHarmony has tailored the compatibility algorithm to what works for heterosexual couples, then they don't have what's needed to serve the gay dating service market. There are plenty of services that serve the gay dating market exclusively. They probably are in no position to serve the hetero market. Their matching algorithms would not fit that demographic.
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harmlessoldman1 year, 6 months ago
Dang, I am too old, I thought a "Gay Lobby" was where you checked into a "Merry Motel." Sorry, I couldnt help it, a feeble attempt, ill rersist the urge next time.
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SpazMat1 year, 6 months ago
I guess they qualify.
Just like there are "Christian lobbys" (of different flavors) that supports the rights and views of different Christian groups, there are lobbyists that support gay rights and views.
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Russencrantz1 year, 6 months ago
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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stephen-johnson1 year, 6 months ago
"Yeah, where do they get "Gay Lobby" from?"
From here, perhaps?
"Carlson's lawyers expect a significant number of gays and lesbians to join the class action, which seeks to force eHarmony to end its policy as well as unspecified damages for those denied eHarmony services based on their sexual orientation."
"There are PLENTY of gay dating websites already."
Ms Carlson must be either unaware of them or chooses not to use them. Only eHarmony will do for her. Curious...
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Mathusalum1 year, 6 months ago
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-Oscar1 year, 6 months ago
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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stephen-johnson1 year, 6 months ago
The problem is that the California court system, up to the Ninth Circus, probably WOULD support the lawsuit. The Supreme Court, as usual, will reverse them. At least one hopes so. But to certain people, this lawsuit is not being launched just to be frivolous
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MacR1 year, 6 months ago
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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Larva1 year, 6 months ago
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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hamy1 year, 6 months ago
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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nahual1 year, 6 months ago
It caters to Christians and if this woman is a Christian lesbian she should be allowed to search for dates.
Anyway, what are they afraid of? If this lesbian post an add requesting a date and NOBODY responds becasue NOBODY is interested then she will find another place where she can have a better chance to find a date.
The KEY word here is DISCRIMINATION...she shoud be allowed to post an add and the rest of the members will react accordingly, those NOT interested dont need to respond. what is the big deal?
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stephen-johnson1 year, 6 months ago
"The KEY word here is DISCRIMINATION...she shoud be allowed to post an add and the rest of the members will react accordingly, those NOT interested dont need to respond. what is the big deal?"
The big deal is that she isn't really interested in using eHarmony to find a mate - she wants to file a lawsuit and make a statement.
Why waste time on a site that doesn't meet your needs if your priority is finding a soul mate???
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