Anti-LGBT
While every American has a right to free exercise, I believe two initiatives of the U.S. government, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the G.W. Bush administration's expansion of the Faith-Based Initiative, have perpetuated a very asymmetrical view of religious freedom.
Arizona's attempt to let businesses refuse to serve LGBT people on religious grounds sparked significantly more bipartisan outrage than Republicans' similar efforts to allow companies to refuse to cover birth control.
Following Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's decision to veto legislation last week that would allow businesses to discriminate against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community based on "religious freedom," conservative pundits basically lost it.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
It looks like Phil Robertson's suspension from "Duck Dynasty" may be just for show. Entertainment Weekly learned that on Jan. 15, A&E will begin airing new episodes of the show that include scenes featuring the "Dynasty" patriarch.
It seems that Charlie Sheen is outraged about something once again. Following the "Duck Dynasty" controversy, Sheen posted a rant directed at Phil Robertson, which appeared to be written in the form of free verse poetry and included a photo of a pigeon that Sheen presumably mistook for a duck.
It hardly seems to go well for stars when they criticize the gay community.
Would-be donors should consider whether "doing the most good" might mean supporting one of the many other effective and reputable charities that provide for the needy without engaging in anti-gay beliefs, policies, or political activities.