But I can't because I'm not my own religion. Or something. I mean, if a company can rely on a claim of personhood in order to ignore legislation its owners oppose, why can't I?*
Anyway, we've heard about Hobby Lobby's upcoming SCOTUS case regarding a corporation's religious objection to providing birth control coverage, but a bad decision there could have a ripple effect of invalidating anti-discrimination laws already on the books...reversing rights gains made and causing more of this:
Michael Griffin taught French and Spanish at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania for twelve years. During that entire time, he’s been in a relationship with his same-sex partner. Indeed, according to Griffin, his partner’s “been to numerous school functions with me, he’s even been to [the headmaster's] house.”
On Friday, Griffin applied for a marriage license with his partner — saying he was “excited to finally be able to marry” him after the state’s courts made marriage equality a reality in nearby New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, Griffin was called into his boss’ office.
“At a meeting in my office yesterday, teacher Michael Griffin made clear that he obtained a license to marry his same sex partner,” the school’s headmaster Fr. James McCloskey wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, this decision contradicts the terms of his teaching contract at our school, which requires all faculty and staff to follow the teachings of the Church as a condition of their employment. In discussion with Mr. Griffin, he acknowledged that he was aware of this provision, yet he said that he intended to go ahead with the ceremony. Regretfully, we informed Mr. Griffin that we have no choice but to terminate his contract effective immediately.”
[...]
Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeast that does not protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, so it is unlikely that Griffin will be able to seek legal recourse for the discrimination he faced.
Understand that this situation
is what's desired by some on the right; having largely lost the cultural battle over marriage rights, they will instead nullify legislation by a thousand cuts. It's the same play they've run with reproductive and civil rights previously.
Update and a clarification: Remembering Jello below points out that I didn't connect the dots too well; s/he asks:
"What law is being ignored?"
In the linked quote from ThinkProgress, none. But Griffin's firing in PA would result in the same outcome for him - no legal recourse - in states that do have anti-discrimination statutes. The practical effect of a successful Hobby Lobby vs. case at the SCOTUS level could be the same as having no anti-discrimination laws in effect at all; companies would be able to selectively ignore laws - state or federal - that contradicted the religious beliefs of its owners/management.
(*because corporations are privileged persons and I am not, apparently)