PETA Vs Sea World

Ark Encounter: Kentucky Is Discriminating Against Us For Our Discriminatory Hiring

Earlier this month the state of Kentucky announced that it will be denying $18M in tax incentives to the Ark Encounter because its employment application stipulates that prospective staffers must be fundamentalist Christians. Today Answers In Genesis, the creationist parent organization of the Ark Encounter, claims that their religious freedom to discriminate is being discriminated against.

In addition to refuting the myth that tax dollars will be used to build our life-size Noah’s Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky, Answers in Genesis has had to spend considerable effort rebutting another myth: that it is illegal for the Ark Encounter to hire only people who can sign its statement of faith. Yet the state, in its letter to AiG last week (and simultaneously leaked to the press), is illegally denying the Ark the opportunity to benefit from the Tourism Development Act (TDA) due to hiring issues. Kentucky is demanding that AiG check its religious freedoms at the door if it is to receive TDA benefits.

It is interesting to note that the state and activist secular groups can point to no specific law or statute that would deny a religious organization like AiG or Ark Encounter the right to hire staff members who agree with its mission. Indeed, why should we give in to the state’s demand and give up our rights to hire people of faith? Nobody seems to want to force the group American Atheists to hire Christians (and we do not advocate it).

The demand by the state to have the Ark Encounter surrender the hiring rights it has under state and federal law in order to benefit from the TDA—otherwise made available to all other qualifying parties—imposes a huge burden on the Ark Encounter’s freedom of religion and smacks of overt religious discrimination. We have assured state officials many times that the Ark Encounter will follow all applicable federal and state laws in operating our theme park, and the state has no basis to demand otherwise.

Have American Atheists requested $18M in tax breaks to build a for-profit amusement park?

HomoQuotable - Pete Werner

"I don’t care if you’re straight or gay, there are some things kids don’t need to see – and trust me, two queens frenching outside Cinderella castle is really high on that list. I can’t help but think of, and feel sorry for – the unsuspecting family who saved for years for a once in a lifetime trip – only to arrive and find that Disney had in fact, been invaded by he-women and shaved down muscle boys. By itself that would not be a problem, but the sheer number of people who seem to go out of their way to rub their sexuality in everyones face during this ‘event’ is nothing short of disgraceful. Is the Magic Kingdom REALLY the place for a 5 year old to ask his father why those two men are kissing? Is it really up to any person to decide for that parent when, or if, they will have that conversation with their child? I’ve always believed the best way we, as gay men and lesbians, could further our cause was to simply live our lives openly, and with dignity. Not hide in shame, and not force our beliefs or lifestyle down anyone else's throat." - Pete Werner, posting to the popular Disney theme parks fan site that he founded and moderates.

RELATED: Porno Pete has gleefully posted a lengthy excerpt from Werner's rant on Matt Barber's hate site.

UPDATE: JMG reader Suzanne writes to note that Werner originally posted the above-linked essay in 2006. It was been republished this year with the below headlines.

NJ Park Plans World's Tallest Drop Ride

Even the animation makes my balls hurt.

OHIO: Amusement Park Cancels Wedding Contest After Gay Activists Complain

Via the Columbus Dispatch:

An amusement park here is canceling a wedding contest after a gay couple organized a protest against the promotion. Cedar Point amusement park initially limited the contest to heterosexual couples because it said state law doesn’t allow gay couples to legally marry in Ohio. A spokesman says the park decided to cancel the event once it started to take on political undertones. The amusement park that sits along Lake Erie in Sandusky had planned to select 13 couples to get married there on Friday the 13th in September.

Stand by for the screams about homofascism.

TEXAS: Woman Dies After Falling Out Of Six Flags' "Texas Giant" Rollercoaster

A woman was killed on Friday after falling out of her seat on a Six Flags wooden rollercoaster in Arlington, Texas.

Six Flags immediately closed the ride and the surrounding area while most of the theme park remained open. Officials at Six Flags did not reveal details about Esparza's death, but released an official statement not long after the incident: "We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant. Park medical staff and local paramedics responded immediately. Since the safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority, the ride has been closed pending further investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time."

The 23 year-old ride was retrofitted with metal rails in 2011. The ride's highest drop is 147 feet.

Jagged Metal Krusty-O Not Included

Gizmodo reports:

Visitors to Orlando Universal can now quench their thirst and stuff their faces at Moe’s Tavern, Krusty Burger, Cletus’ Chicken Shack, the Frying Dutchman, Luigi’s Pizza, and even finish it all off with one of Lard Lad's gigantic donuts. For fans of the series, it's a dream come true, and the only place on earth you'll be able to order a Krusty-Partially-Gelatinated-Non-Dairy-Gum-Based-Beverage.

I still have four boxes of Krusty-O's cereal from 7-Eleven's promotion a few years back.  It was just Froot-Loops inside, sadly.