Actor Michael Imperioli’s response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of a Christian web designer who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings:
“I’ve decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas, or any movie or tv show I’ve been in. Thank you, Supreme Court, for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to. USA! USA!”
Not bad.
In fairness, the ruling does not permit the web designer to refuse to do business with members of the LGBTQ community. It precludes business owners from being forced to produce content that stands in opposition to their religious beliefs.
A gay person could still hire this web designer to create an online campaign to sell their kosher hot dogs and male lingerie.
Still, Supreme Court’s ruling sucks.
Also, you probably shouldn’t sell kosher hot dogs and male lingerie on the same website.
In solidarity with Imperioli, I’ll assume a similar stance with one minor change:
I despise the words “homophobia” or “homophobe” because both imply fear instead of hatred. Absent a word like “racist” or “sexist” to describe someone who hates gay people, I simply refer to anyone who discriminates against members of the LGBTQ community for any reason as a bigot.
It’s what they are.
So:
If you’re a bigot, please don’t purchase my books, attend any of my shows, or send me large sums of cash in the mail. Like Michael Imperioli, I don’t want your business.
Actually, the large sums of cash would be fine.
