It is absolutely not OK to discriminate against a person because of orientation. An individual who is gay has no more control over their orientation than a person who is straight. People who are against gay rights simply do not understand and cannot relate to this natural phenomenon and the horrific experience of living in an oppressive society where fear becomes hate.

—Jill Akre

Sexual orientation one way or another has no business in the workplace. If a person makes it obvious what their sexual orientation is, an employer should have every right to use that as a basis for elimination from consideration for a job.

—Ed Mckenzie

It is a sad commentary on our nation that this question would even be asked, especially on a place such as Diversityinc.com. Our appalling apathy regarding the degrading treatment of LGBT citizens is chilling. This is evidence that we are not that far from the days when women could not vote and African Americans were considered property in many states.

—David Hurley

It is NOT OK to discriminate against a person because of orientation, just as it is not OK to discriminate against a person because they are shorter than average or taller than average ... To do so is un-American.

—Anne Swanson

A democracy is equality of rights, opportunity and treatment. Nowhere in that definition does it indicate this only refers to certain sub-groups of people. Exclusion of any person is in direct violation to the very core values written by our founding fathers when designing our first government. If our country doesn't allow full protection to all people, how are we in a position to honestly and rightfully make a statement to the world that we are a democratic role model? Perhaps our government needs to pick up a dictionary.

—Linda Fix

It is not right to discriminate against anyone, but there are laws on the books to protect against discrimination and there shouldn't be special protected status for any one group. That would be an inequality in itself.

—J. Thomason

Only the government cannot discriminate. Anybody who owns or runs a business should be able to hire, not hire or fire whomever they want for whatever reason. It's called freedom of association. It's a CHOICE! Yes, everybody has the right to choose with whom they associate, especially when it's their business, their money ... If that homosexual gene that many homosexuals insist exists is ever found, will it be discrimination against homosexuals for a woman to abort her baby because he/she has that gene?

—Becky Laffoon

When is this madness going to end?  I'll answer the question with a question: When is it ever OK to discriminate against an individual because of any characteristic that is irrelevant to his/her ability to perform the work? Just because I'm not like you does not mean that I can't do the work as well or better than you, and that's all that should matter.

—Sharron Emmons

I reserve the right to discriminate against anyone, at any time, for any reason, without notice. Those reasons are wholly my own and are not subject to negotiation, intimidation or government dictate.

—Eric Eggler

It is absolutely not OK to discriminate against someone because of their orientation ... People are all human beings regardless of orientation, race, religion, gender, etc. and as such deserve the same rights, respect and treatment as others. For someone to agree that it is unacceptable to discriminate against someone because of their race, for example, but then discriminates against the LGBT community demonstrates hypocrisy. As Americans we are ALL entitled to freedom and equal opportunity, not just select groups. We as a nation have a long way to go to achieve this but we can make progress through supporting legislation that ensures equality for marginalized groups.

—J. Oliveira

Homosexuality is wrong. Murder is wrong. Taking drugs is wrong. Bestiality is wrong. Lying is wrong. But it is not right [to] degrade a person. If that habit is detrimental to the job they are applying for, one must consider the consequences. Discrimination is wrong.

—Franklin Rutledge

If our Constitution says "Freedom and Justice for all," what does "all" mean? Gay people do not choose to be gay. They are born that way. If we believe God created us, then we have to believe God created gays.

—George Cole

The United States' basic philosophy is individual choice. As long as that choice does not adversely affect others, why discriminate against individuals because their preferences differ from our own?

—Corinne Moore

It is never OK to discriminate against anyone for anything. All people are created equal.

—James Tyler

Does anyone need to know whether I sleep or don't sleep with my wife? Why in the world would anyone be concerned about who in the world a person sleeps with? I just don't get it. This sounds more like a privacy concern than anything else. Who a person sleeps with is their business as long as it's between two consenting adults behind close [sic] doors. They don't need to tell me about and I don't need to know about it, thank you very much!

—Mike McDowell

It is never right to discriminate! The great Commonwealth of Virginia used religion to argue against interracial marriages and has done it again with same-sex marriages.

—Genevieve Fine

Absolutely not! What does the orientation of a person have to do with anything?

—Janice Jackson