America: It's F***ed Up

I think I need to start another series entitled "America: It's F***ed Up." Because you know what? It is. My friend sent me this article today, and granted it's about a bill that's about a year old and has yet to pass, but the fact that someone was shameless enough to even put it forth, and that the House in Michigan was willing to pass it, means that I need to migrate. To Canada. Where people don't suck.
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Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays(Lansing, Michigan)
Doctors or other health care providers could not bedisciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholicslooked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol. The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.

The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providersto assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice ofa patient or procedure with which they don't agree. However, it wouldprohibit emergency treatment to be refused.Three other bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which would exempt a health insurer or health facility from providing or covering a health care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement. Opponents of the bills said they're worried they would allow providers to refuse service for any reason. For example, they said an emergency medical technician could refuse to answer a call from the residence of a gay couple because they don't approve of homosexuality.

Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) the first openly gay legislator in Michigan, pointed out that while the legislation prohibits racial discrimination by health care providers, it doesn't ban discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation. "Are you telling me that a health care provider can deny me medical treatment because of my sexual orientation? I hope not," he said. "I think it's a terrible slippery slope upon which we embark," said Rep. Jack Minore (D-Flint) before voting against the bill. Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the bills promote the constitutional right to religious freedom. "Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising faith-based teaching," he said in a written statement.
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My question is, how can this possibly have anything to do with religion? I can understand having a conscientous objector clause to prevent providers from having to DO something that they consider sinful. For instance, if I ever get to be a doctor, I really can't see myself ever performing an abortion. Because to me, that's murder, and I would be the one committing it. However, if you think homosexuality is wrong, don't do it! I don't know of a section in the bible that says that providing health care to a gay person is wrong. What I do remember of the Bible is Jesus saying, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me." I believe there's also a big part of the Bible where Jesus is hanging out with Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was a whore...but Jesus didn't shun her. There's even a story in the Bible where Jesus stops people from stoning a woman to death for adultery. Adultery is wrong, but Jesus still protected her.

I dont want to spawn a bunch of comments about whether homosexuality is right or wrong. That's not the issue. The issue is, are homosexuals less than human? Because the UN asserts that healthcare is a basic human right. The US notoriously ignores this statement by not guaranteeing health care to anyone in this country. But, they've never openly allowed discrimination in health care. Okay, I'm done ranting now.

This has been, "America: It's F***ed Up."