On Wednesday, we argued against House Bill 417, a bill to include sexual orientation as a protected class in Montana Human Rights law. We argued, as we have for 20 years, that the law would be used to browbeat Christians who don’t want to participate in the homosexual lifestyle.
Yesterday, a Supreme Court decision in the State of Washington proved our point. It was the case of Barronelle Stutzman, a florist who, for over a decade, sold flowers to a man she knew was gay for every occasion imaginable, until the day he asked her to do his wedding. Stutzman told him that she loved him, but she believed marriage was a sacred union ordained by God and reserved to a man and a woman. The gay man said he understood, they both hugged and that was that, or so she thought. Later, through social media, the Washington attorney general heard about the incident and chose to charge Stutzman with a human rights violation.
Yesterday, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that Stutzman, and every other Christian in Washington, could be forced against their faith to participate in same-sex weddings. This is why we fought so hard over the years to keep this law out of Montana. In every state where it passed, homosexual activists have used it to target Christians and get liberal judges to hold religious freedom subservient to homosexual rights. At Wednesday’s hearing, we also pointed out that an ominous change was added to the bill last session. For the first time, those in favor of the bill sought to amend 49-2-404 of the Montana Code, to say that “bathing and dressing facilities, based on the distinction of sex, may be maintained for the purpose of modesty or privacy, as long as individuals are admitted based on their gender identity.”
As I said in an earlier broadcast, the City of New York recognizes 31 gender identities and so would Montana if this were ever to pass. And if it did pass, it would allow men and boys unfettered access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms across the state. That, in our opinion, is absolutely unacceptable. Women and girls should have the assurance that they can undress in a locker room without some guy walking in. I’m sorry to be so graphic, but this is what our society has come to. Fortunately, except for hard members of the progressive left and liberal members of the Montana media, most Montanans still believe in modesty and decency. When the Obama administration issued its transgender mandate to force public schools to allow boys into girls’ locker rooms, we commissioned an extensive state-wide poll. The results were predictable: 29% of Montanans were in favor of the mandate; 62% stood opposed; the Missoula media market saw 38% support, 55% opposed; and of parents with children ages 6 to 11, 15% supported the mandate, while 74% stood opposed.
This is why we’re at the Capitol, to give voice to the vast majority of Montanans who still believe in decency and morality. Toward the end of the hearing, a liberal committee member cautioned those opposed to the bill not to be caught on the wrong side of history. That’s never been my concern. When all is said and done, I don’t want to be on the right side of history, I want to be on the right side of eternity.
My husband and I each just sent emails to our senator and representative to vote no for HB bill 417. We agree with you; we want to be on the right side of eternity. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.