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Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marriage

LowDown

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When East Lansing officials told Steve Tennes he was no longer welcome to sell his apples and doughnuts at the city-run farmers market, he couldn’t believe it.

All it took to earn the government’s wrath was penning a social media post about his faith.

Last December, Tennes, who owns the Country Mill Orchard and Cider Mill in Charlotte, wrote a Facebook post explaining his family’s Catholic views on marriage, and how their deeply held beliefs are why his farm won’t host same-sex weddings.

The city’s response — banning him from its farmers market — reminded the former Marine of the time he spent near the border of North Korea. Tennes could see into the country, and it impacted him how people there live their entire lives in fear of the government.

That’s how he felt when he got the letter from East Lansing.

“I felt it in my gut. This isn’t real,” Tennes recalls.“We have freedom of speech in this country.”

Tennes felt especially betrayed that he was being denied rights he fought to defend while serving his country. His wife Bridget is a former Army nurse.

A farmer's market with a religious belief test. He can't sell apples because crimethink. They were more tolerant of religious belief even back in the old Soviet Union. Even Genghis Khan was more tolerant of religious belief.

This IMHO is a pretty clear cut violation of the Marine's civil rights. Perhaps it could be raised to the level of criminal violation.

Jacques: Farmer gets the boot over beliefs
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

A farmer's market with a religious belief test. He can't sell apples because crimethink. They were more tolerant of religious belief even back in the old Soviet Union. Even Genghis Khan was more tolerant of religious belief.

This IMHO is a pretty clear cut violation of the Marine's civil rights. Perhaps it could be raised to the level of criminal violation.

Jacques: Farmer gets the boot over beliefs

So to be clear this isn't because of a religious facebook post, it's about their company's refusal to perform same sex weddings. This is not about not selling apples because of simply opposing same sex marriage.

https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/civicalerts.aspx?aid=577

“The Country Mill has been excluded from the East Lansing Farmer’s Market because the East Lansing Farmer’s Market policy requires that all vendors comply with the City’s Civil Rights ordinances while at the market and as a general business practice. Contrary to this policy and the constitutionally protected rights of all couples, The Country Mill has advertised that their business practice is to prohibit same-sex couples from holding weddings at their orchard in Charlotte, MI. Their business practices violate the City of East Lansing’s long-standing ordinance that protects sexual orientation as well as the Supreme Court’s ruling that grants the right for same-sex couples to be married.”
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

So to be clear this isn't because of a religious facebook post, it's about their company's refusal to perform same sex weddings. This is not about not selling apples because of simply opposing same sex marriage.

https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/civicalerts.aspx?aid=577

OK, still don't agree with it, but that is a bit more clear than what the OP would have had us believe.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

A farmer's market with a religious belief test. He can't sell apples because crimethink. They were more tolerant of religious belief even back in the old Soviet Union. Even Genghis Khan was more tolerant of religious belief. This IMHO is a pretty clear cut violation of the Marine's civil rights. Perhaps it could be raised to the level of criminal violation.

Then let him sue, lets see how it works out. Personally I don't see this as suppression of religion, he is free to enforce his religious code on anyone coming onto his land and the public is free to give him opportunities to peddle is apples there, there can always be a price to pay for excluding people from your business... but let him go to court if he really wants to compare is Republic to dictatorships... :peace
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Then let him sue, lets see how it works out. Personally I don't see this as suppression of religion, he is free to enforce his religious code on anyone coming onto his land and the public is free to give him opportunities to peddle is apples there, there can always be a price to pay for excluding people from your business... but let him go to court if he really wants to compare is Republic to dictatorships... :peace

There are certainly consumer blowbacks that can happen when a company exercises discriminatory business practices. That's one thing, but this is on the government and the government, unlike the private citizen, cannot discriminate. I suppose you can say that the Farmer's Market is a public event, and all participating vendors are required to meet the government's civil rights policies during it. Meaning, if this guy comes to sell his apples, he must sell his apples to all. But the use of the government here to push back on him because he won't rent out his land for events he doesn't like I think is a bit too much.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

A farmer's market with a religious belief test. He can't sell apples because crimethink. They were more tolerant of religious belief even back in the old Soviet Union. Even Genghis Khan was more tolerant of religious belief.

This IMHO is a pretty clear cut violation of the Marine's civil rights. Perhaps it could be raised to the level of criminal violation.

Jacques: Farmer gets the boot over beliefs

And this is why all decent people should abandon social media.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

It's kinda funny how a local community got sick and tired of one farmer's bigotry (not religious belief. His bigoted views towards homosexuals) and now the farmer can't help but not like it when the community discriminates against him.

With that said, the bigoted turd should have the right to sell his rotten apples in the public space, but he's far from someone that should he playing the victim card.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

It's kinda funny how a local community got sick and tired of one farmer's bigotry (not religious belief. His bigoted views towards homosexuals) and now the farmer can't help but not like it when the community discriminates against him.

With that said, the bigoted turd should have the right to sell his rotten apples in the public space, but he's far from someone that should he playing the victim card.

Religious, not bigoted.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Religious, not bigoted.

Christians are relgious, bigots discriminate.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Christians are relgious, bigots discriminate.

Really? What do you think of the University of Michigan?
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Really? What do you think of the University of Michigan?

Terrible basketball program, I like watching Jim Harbaugh football teams so from time to time I'll tune in to see their games.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Religious, not bigoted.

Plenty of people are religious without going out of their way to be bigoted like this man has.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Terrible basketball program, I like watching Jim Harbaugh football teams so from time to time I'll tune in to see their games.

Ah, so you you know what I was getting at and you dodged. I don't blame you.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Plenty of people are religious without going out of their way to be bigoted like this man has.

What exactly did he say? The world doesn't revolve around gay people? He's right you know, it doesn't.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Ah, so you you know what I was getting at and you dodged. I don't blame you.

No, I genuinely fail to see how the UM is any more relevant to the conversation of defending a bigot's bigotry by dressing it up as "religion." Personally, if someone used my faith to cover someone's bigotry, I'd be pissed.

But what do I know, I'm only a sane person.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

No, I genuinely fail to see how the UM is any more relevant to the conversation of defending a bigot's bigotry by dressing it up as "religion." Personally, if someone used my faith to cover someone's bigotry, I'd be pissed.

But what do I know, I'm only a sane person.

I actually believe you don't see it.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

I actually believe you don't see it.

Enlighten me, does the Univrrsity of Michigan hate those poor, persecuted Christians as much as they hate playing competitive basketball?
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Enlighten me, does the Univrrsity of Michigan hate those poor, persecuted Christians as much as they hate playing competitive basketball?

Yeah, standard for your kind. It's all about basketball, right? We're done.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

You can be both religious and bigoted. Which is exactly what that man is.

What exactly did he say that makes you think he's a bigot?
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

I actually believe you don't see it.

Stupid people are not a protected class. Not that I really like the whole notion of "protected class". But University should be elitist and only the brightest, most capable allowed to enter. But then again, no University would have a decent football team if so, lol.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

So to be clear this isn't because of a religious facebook post, it's about their company's refusal to perform same sex weddings. This is not about not selling apples because of simply opposing same sex marriage.

https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/civicalerts.aspx?aid=577

The City of Lansing speaks with a forked tongue. Selling apples at a farmer's market and having weddings at an orchard have nothing to do with each other, so that's a false pretext. I expect the farmer will take them apart at trial.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

Yeah, standard for your kind. It's all about basketball, right? We're done.

He mentioned football.
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

He mentioned football.

I quoted him mentioning basketball.

But...no one ever mentions hockey, but they should, because it rules!
 
Re: Michigan Farmer Prohibited From Selling Apples Because He Opposes Same Sex Marria

The City of Lansing speaks with a forked tongue. Selling apples at a farmer's market and having weddings at an orchard have nothing to do with each other, so that's a false pretext. I expect the farmer will take them apart at trial.

Did you even read what I posted?

“The Country Mill has been excluded from the East Lansing Farmer’s Market because the East Lansing Farmer’s Market policy requires that all vendors comply with the City’s Civil Rights ordinances while at the market and as a general business practice.

While at the market AND as a general business practice, all the vendors have to comply with the ordinances. So the farmers market policy clearly states the vendors needs to follow it not only at the market but in their general practice.

:bunny:
 
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