EHarmony, a major (and pricey) dating site whose claim to fame is precise matching backed by lots of high science, is planning to add a gay matching service by March 2009. Not by choice, but because of a court settlement, after a 3 year long court battle. San Francisco Chronicle railed against the government interference. Most other papers were cautiously neutral.
This is a tought question… Is a business required to offer services to everyone? What about a Christian or a Jewish-only dating site? Asian Friend Finder?
Some of my friends feel that the freedom to do business trumps the equal rights in this case. Interestingly enough, they are strongly on the side of equal rights in case of racial discrimination. I’m just glad to see more inclusiveness anywhere, whatever the reason. But then, I’m a bi poly perv.
It seems that the feelings about this decision hang on how people feel about homosexuality. I think of it more alike to gender than race – something you’re born with and *can* force yourself to change (behavior-wise) if your life depended on it, but it likely makes life not worth living… Think of this scenario: “Don’t like the glass ceiling, girls? Come in to your friendly surgeon! We *do* have a choice now, ladies – a quick mastectomy, some hormone treatments and a reconstructive surgery down there, and there you go off to those exclusive man’s clubs.”
So, if gender discrimination is illegal, should the discrimination based on who we can’t help being drawn to be legal? I’m curious to see how you feel about this.
Why does the government have to decide everything for us? It is going to kill us soon if we don’t get Big Bro out of our every day lives.
jb