Canceling trip to HW this world summer

Jeff said:

Not to mention that it's a family owned business that has been more than generous to the enthusiast community for almost two decades, and I don't have to tell you about the sexual orientation demographics of this group. Trying to punish them to affect change is absurd. Even if they did have the influence, it would take years.

As I said in the original post, I hate that HW is impacted by this. They've been remarkable corporate citizens to their local community, and to the enthusiast community, for a long time. (Going back to the first media day ride of Raven that I'm aware of, and probably before that.)

Their Values post today is amazing, more so because they are a small family owned business in a very rural, conservative Christian portion of a (currently) Red state. Let's not forget that for years HW (has) had a Christian music show alternating in their main theater. Putting the words "sexual orientation" in that Values list is a huge shot.

It's not about punishing them, as you say, that would be absurd and pointless. It's just not taking my business to Indiana right now.

CreditWh0re said:
What I can't countenance, is the thought that if I should somehow get injured while at Holiday world, the county EMT who comes to help my ass, might just leave me on the ground because he thinks I'm gay. Read that again, THINKS I'm gay. That's all he/she needs to step back, while I'm bleeding to death.

It's no different than Sammy Davis Junior being denied medical care at a white's only hospital.

????

An EMT refuses to treat someone because they 'think' someone is gay? Listen, I usually respect your opinion on things, but this one is beyond me.

Seriously, with that mindset stay out of the park, or anywhere else that carries a risk of encountering a bigoted EMT. *SMH*

Here's a really good (and brief) article about the divide within Christianity itself. The "haters" do not speak for the entire community.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/03/26/disciples_of_christ_protest_indiana_anti_gay_law_more_of_this_please.html

Jeff said:

Trying to punish them to affect change is absurd. Even if they did have the influence, it would take years.

Still, it's obvious that HW knows they are now in a state where a significant part of the population (gay AND straight) might take pause in visiting.

That's powerful. Boycott or not, that they know people are even *considering* taking their dollars elsewhere is significant. HW is one business, but a lot of businesses causing a stir together could certainly affect positive change in the future.

CreditWh0re said:
It's not about punishing them, as you say, that would be absurd and pointless. It's just not taking my business to Indiana right now.

I don't care what you say it's about, because punishing them is effectively what it is. Fighting the ideologues by being one is completely absurd.

"Becoming one" IMO would be my taking the stance that my business won't serve conservative Christians. Letting IN businesses know that their legal environment will hurt them directly and indirectly is a pretty powerful tool.Consider what did happen in Arizona not too long ago. Jan Brewer likely had every intention of signing their bill...until the backlash hit.

The NCAA had their say....and my guess is that if this year's Final Four were scheduled to be held in Indianapolis, the Gov. might have vetoed instead of signing.

The Indiana bakery that started the whole shebang as closed.

Side note: Indy Rainbow Chamber, the LGBT chamber of commerce lists a gay-friendly bakery in Indianapolis. Kim's Kake Kreations.

It's one thing to be wary of trying to travel to an Indiana small town and wonder who might deny you service (or at least give you the stink eye), but can you imagine trying to live there?

Gator, the Final Four this year is in Indy.

slithernoggin said:

Kim's Kake Kreations.

That has got to be THE worst name for any business, let alone one that's gay friendly.

RollerCoasterGod said:

People think a business owes them their service. They don't...well, unless it's the Government ;-)

If one wants to feel oppressed because of a store, campground, establishment, etc...

Then go start your own place up and put your own rules in place. If we like it, then we will come and spend $$. If enough people like it, and you like enough people then you will make $ If not, then you will go out of business, and others will thrive.

That's the great thing about America.

Umm....no. A great thing about America (I'm not going to be so bold as to claim it is THE great thing) is the rights of minorities are protected against the will of the majority. It is illegal in America to deny people service based on their race. It is illegal in America to deny people service based on their religion. The argument "you should just go elsewhere and things will work out" didn't happen for other civil rights causes, so why do you think it will happen here without a federal law?

ApolloAndy said:

slithernoggin said:

Kim's Kake Kreations.

That has got to be THE worst name for any business, let alone one that's gay friendly.

Indiana IS the birthplace of the second klan.

What's overwhelmingly positive is how much noise we are all hearing in the same direction. We can argue about the ethics, morals, and perceived misgivings about boycotts and the like, but 2015 is so different than even just 1995 in terms of the cultural shift that has happened in support of LGBT rights, and gay rights in particular.

When you cut through the noise, it's heartwarming to see where we're at, and concomitantly makes the governor's action seem simply vile.

That said, I must admit that reading Holiday World's post really made an impact on me. Jeff and I (that was me, Jeff) had a small back and forth courtesy of Ensign Smith's Facebook feed last night, and my thinking has shifted from reactionary to simply...well...compassionate.

One of my old buddies from childhood lives in Fort Wayne, and he posted a picture that was posted outside a record store (yes, they still exist!) that simply stated in big bold letters, "We will do business with anyone who wants to do business with us".

Here's where I'm at, at least. After reading HW's post, I would happily visit their park. After seeing that sign posted outside the record store's business, I would buy an LP from them. If I knew a business was purposely using the law to actively discriminate, well, I think you know the answer.

What I'm still entertaining the value of, though, are the big boycotts. The conferences, the gatherings, the events, concerts, etc...to me those make much more a bold statement, but then again, we're back to the idea of the fact that it will undoubtedly impact local bars, establishments. From what I have heard and read, there WERE a lot of businesses that got together to try and stop this because they knew of the backlash, it all just fell on deaf ears, as the governor is interested in one thing; being the GOP candidate for president, and at the end of the day this was a combination of the religious right shooting a shot across the bow of gay rights while allowing the governor to garner support from that camp as the "god-fearing" candidate.

In the end, Holiday World's message of positivity overshadowed the governor's message of indecency.

For me.

Re: large boycotts
When talking about social justice, my pastor mentor has always said "Don't get mad. Get organized."

RCMAC said:

It's one thing to be wary of trying to travel to an Indiana small town and wonder who might deny you service (or at least give you the stink eye), but can you imagine trying to live there?

Unfortunately for me, living in small town Indiana is a reality. This place has far too many bigots. Most of the Christians around here look down at anyone that doesn't share the same beliefs. I've seen it put distance between so many family members that it's just unreal, my own family included.

This #BoycottIndiana trend is all over the local media and most of us are as outraged as anyone. My Facebook page is full of posts supporting equality. The majority of us are good people, but many of the bad are terrible.

I'm a straight, white, blue eyed male, so I don't have to endure the BS that some of my friends do. But I see it and hear about it all of the time. Now it's gone from sad to worse.

Duane - No longer proud to be called a Hoosier.

sirloindude said:

Gator, the Final Four this year is in Indy.

Wow. Guess it was WAY too late for the NCAA to consider moving it.

It is too late. But this is interesting.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/03/26/indiana-gay-right-r.../70513950/

Proof of what these Religious Freedom bills are really about:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/03/27/georgia_legislators_a...ation.html

Blackie said:
I'm a straight, white, blue eyed male...

I see what you did there... :)

That's a lot of parks to be avoiding.

Link