Christian conservative group American
Family Association (AFA) has warned that the “gay gestapo” is
punishing Christians.
Bills seeking to allow business owners
to deny service based on their religious beliefs have been introduced
in several states in response to cases where businesses were found
guilty of discriminating against gay couples.
The recent unraveling of a bill in
Arizona made national headlines.
(Related: Arizona's
Jan Brewer vetoes “license to discriminate against gays” bill.)
Tim Wildmon, the group's president,
said in a letter Thursday that the cases represent a “slippery
slope.”
“The government should not compel an
individual to engage in a business transaction that violates their
conscience,” Wildmon
wrote. “The 'Gay Gestapo' (of which not all gays and lesbians
are a part) is now pushing well beyond 'live and let live' territory
into using the law to punitively enforce their political and social
agenda.”