Bill aimed at turning down a client because they may be gay

To the editor:

A column in an LMT opinion (5/20/17) entitled: “Texas lawmakers attempt to tackle sin” immediately caught my attention. Apparently, the Christian Taliban has totally infected our secular state capital.

Obviously not content with closing all planned parenthood clinics statewide, or forcing state or county officials to become junior immigration agents and stop people based on their pigmentation, these self-professed sinners now want to tell lawyers how to discriminate based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

A Tyler politician/lawyer has spearheaded a bill to protect lawyers from practicing in a way contrary to their religious beliefs. The law is designed to ensure that attorneys and clients are “matched” so we can zealously advocate our client’s position. Reminds me of a Christian dating site. In 40 years of practicing law, I have never read or heard that my main job as a lawyer is to be “matched” to my client, religiously or otherwise. Rep. Schaefer wants lawyers to be matched so that we can, in good conscience, implement the “desires” of a client. The bill is aimed at turning down a client because they may be gay. Texas wants adoption agencies to decline to place children in homes of couples that may be gay, Jewish, atheist or other undesirables. I guess they would decline to let Jesus, the ultimate Jew, an adoption.

For a lawmaker who swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution to ask members of my noble profession to blatantly discriminate and be protected by law is reprehensible. That is how Nazi Germany began when they took power. They immediately passed laws to discriminate against a particular class of people - Jewish citizens. That is the reason Lady Justice is blindfolded. Justice should be equal for all regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.

Will this ridiculous law force doctors to turn down patients based on their sincerely held religious beliefs? Will they force lawyers to place their religious preference on their advertising? Will we start seeing crosses, Stars of David, crescent moons or Buddhist symbols above their entrance door? Will only non-believing lawyers be able to take divorce cases since the Bible specifically forbids it? (Matthew 5:31-320). Will a criminal defense lawyer be able to use the Bible to insist their client was merely following God’s law when he abused his children? (Deut. 21:18-21). Will a newlywed husband be able to murder his bride because he finds out she is not a virgin on their wedding night? (Deut. 22:20-21).

All of these are Biblical injunctions. If these sanctimonious Texas Legislators want to use the Bible to discriminate they should all resign immediately. Any lawyer who thinks this law should be forced on the State Bar of Texas and face possible lawsuits or grievances should immediately resign from the practice of law and become a mega-church preacher. There is a lot more money in that business.


David Almaraz