Apparently, the owner of the Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan has broken their contract with the Center for Inquiry–Michigan by cancelling an upcoming event featuring biologist Richard Dawkins – simply because Dawkins is an atheist.
According to the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, the Wyndgate broke its contract after the owner saw an October 5th interview with Dawkins on The O’Reilly Factor in which Prof. Dawkins discussed his new book, The Magic of Reality: How We Know What’s Really True. This book educates young people about science, and teaches a scientific approach to thinking. CFI-Michigan says the Wyndgate called them and said the owner did not wish to associate with Dawkins and his philosophies. Please note that no invitation was ever issued to the owner to meet or associate with Richard Dawkins…
CFI Michigan points out that this kind of religious bigotry isn't just wrong, it's against the law. I join in that statement. Today I sent this e-mail to the Wyndgate and to Frank Agnello, the Wyndgate IT executive:
Hello. My name is James Randi. I am the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation. Members of this Foundation would like an answer - for publication - to this simple, direct, question, please: Does the Wyndgate Country Club discriminate against those who do not share their beliefs in angels, devils, deities, heaven, and hell? Are such persons denied the use of the Wyndgate facilities, even when contracted for? I’m sure that by now you’re fully aware of the fact that any such discrimination is illegal, contrary to the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964SEC. 201, from which I quote, emphasizing the applicable words:
(a) All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color,religion, or national origin.
Please respond with a simple “yes” or “no,” or with a brief explanation of your recent action against Dr. Richard Dawkins, the internationally-recognized biologist, Oxford professor, and author.
Thank you.
I will await with interest the reaction of the Wyndgate Country Club, though I can pretty safely predict their response: they will screech for their lawyers, with which they are plentifully supplied, and those savants will advise them that silence is the appropriate reaction, since this “request for information” came from a mere magician. They will then see that it was published on SWIFT, and they will prepare a properly pompous document for the consumption of their members. However, I suspect that there will be a number of those members who will react strongly to this refusal to allow Oxford don Richard Dawkins to speak freely… I wonder…
James Randi