In which Joel gets political

I haven't posted this for nearly a week because I wanted to make sure I wasn't posting out of anger.

At our staff meeting last week, we were discussing the upcoming Community Day. We're inviting all parents, students, alumni as far back as the high school goes, and community members to join us for a day celebrating who we are, what we do, and how we can all work together to help the students.

The church down the street printed up a bunch of football-shaped magnets that list our team's football schedule, and include (in very small print) the church's logo and contact information.

The principal was saying how the pastor asked if he could have a booth set up at the Community Day to distribute those magnets. She told us that she told him no, because if she allowed a church group to come on school grounds and distribute anything, then "any other group, even, like, a gay or lesbian group or something like that could demand to come onto school grounds, and we'd have to let them. I mean, it's their choice and whatever, but we know what would happen if they came here."

Take a moment.

Breathe.

Imagine me trying not to let my face flush or break the pen that is in my hand.

Church-state separation is a separate issue and no secular groups could sue for access to school grounds based on allowing a church group to be on school grounds.

No, I don't know what would happen if "they" showed up. Recruitment? Gasp! Porn? Gasp! Education? Double gasp! I'll ignore the thing about choice.

This is why we need a national, inclusive ENDA. Michiganders, you aren't safe unless you work for the state government. Ain't nobody safe here. I would have no recourse if I were fired simply for being who I am.

I do not want to hear arguments about how ENDA would force religious employers to hire people who don't agree with their business's goals. I don't want to hear about churches who are afraid they might have a transgendered person using a restroom that doesn't match their biological sex. White churches opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Freedom from offense is not guaranteed in the Constitution; human rights are.

Barack Obama supports inclusive ENDA and has sponsored similar legislation while in Illinois. John McCain categorically opposed any type of ENDA legislation. McCain's web site has no section specific to LGBT issues. He has made his position clear when he voted against anti-discrimination legislation for LGBT folks.

Ponder.