It was a bad year for culture-war zealots. As noted below, Oregon labor commissioner Brad Avakian, prosecutor of people whose faith isn’t secular-progressivism of the statist/authoritarian variety, lost big-time his race for Oregon secretary of state. He thought driving a mom-and-pop bakery out of business because its proprietors declined to bake a wedding cake for two lesbians, while offering to find another baker to do so (as it would violate their religious beliefs to participate in a same-sex wedding) would be his winning ticket. Wrong.
In North Carolina, it looks like Gov. Pat McCrory, who pushed through a law requiring the use of bathrooms in conformity with one’s birth certificate in government buildings and public schools (thereby overturning a newly passed Charlotte anti-discrimination ordinance) has lost, or might just barely squeak through after a recount.
Just two examples, but I think it’s indicative of the national mood. Sexuality and religion culture-war instigators were not in favor this year, whether on the pro- or anti-LGBT side. And that’s a welcome development.
2 Comments for “Losers: The Culture Warriors”
posted by Doug on
I live in the Pacific Northwest, Stephen, and if you had done the least bit of research you would have learned that Brad Avakian did not lose because he put an anti-gay bakery out of business. He lost primarily because he wanted to expand the office substantially into areas that most voters objected too. Nice try, Stephen, but no cigar on this one.
posted by JohnInCA on
That Sweet Cakes by Melissa was “driven out of business” by a fine is just the lie that won’t die, isn’t it?
Sweet Cakes closed their doors well before the case was resolved, the fine was in-line with other non-discrimination cases in the state, was largely a consequence of the defendant’s doxxing the plaintiff, and was more then handled by the donated war-chest. And they aren’t even out of business!