Skate rink trouble… with questionable sourcing?
The short of this story is a skating rink in NY has a “christian skate time” on Sunday afternoon received a warning that it was a human rights violation by the state Division of Human Rights. This is a terrible thing on several levels, but the author goes on to quote a gentleman (whom I mean no disrespect) from the “Traditional Values Coalition” for his expertise on this. I feel that is this kind of reference that actually does damage to the reputation of christians in the public eye. If this was related any other issue I feel that the journalistically sound thing to do would be to contact a non-biased academic with an expertise in the subject area. Consulting the Rev. Lou Sheldon for an issue with a “christian skate time” is the kind of media coverage that makes christians look weaker in the eyes of the public.
As for the argument by the state of NY, it is equally shameful. Christians are just as protected by the rights to operate establishments as anyone else. A Christian bookseller certainly wouldn’t meet the criteria set forth by New York. The article says that the letter from the state said that a “Christian skate denies or at a minimum, discourages non-Christian patronage.” I would have to say that I have been discouraged from entering the Wiccan stores here in Salem, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the right to do business.