not that i'm sticking up for the "left", but when someone shows intolerance for someone elses free choices and then disguises their contempt in the guise of religion, then acts all but-hurt when people condemn them, then i'd say that the person/s that make those statements shouldn't be surprised when people react negatively. I don't condone the ridicule from those that oppose phil's statements, but in some respects i understand it.
The problem is that once a person chalks up their ideas to their religion or more specifically in our culture, christian religion, that statements made are suddenly free from scrutiny. Sorry, but if you say something intolerant of peoples free choices, you should accept the responsibility for those statements and not hide behind the unprovable assertions of a religion.
Now don't misunderstand, i'm not advocating censorship at a societal level, anyone is free to share their opinions, but just like beleive that a church shouldn't be forced by law to marry a gay couple, a&e is free to hire and release people whose views are intolerant of others.
If i posted on facebook that i thought blacks or women were inferior and my company found out about that comment and it was reported in the paper or on the news, then keeping me employed, that is, taking no action to remove me is viewed as support for my comments which are, but cultural definition, racist sexist and in both cases intolerant.