There's no purity test for public

Political groups that some would classify as unholy meet in public buildings.

Religious groups of various persuasions meet in public buildings, including schools.

The basic concept is that these facilities are created for and supported by everyone. Because they’re publicly owned, discrimination within against individuals or groups based on race, creed, sexual orientation and other categories is against the law.

Let’s look at this in more detail. Some people find the John Birch Society reprehensible. Yet if a public library, for instance, made space available for public group gatherings, the local JBSers would have to be welcome.

Those JBSers might very well be damning communists in a room right next to another where local communists are communing peacefully with one another. And next door to them could be The Holy Roller Glee Club, meeting one door down from the Gay Pride Parade Planners.

That’s the public realm, and the concept isn’t hard to grasp. Elected officials, administrators and their employees have zero authority to develop purity tests and allow admission only to citizens who pass.

Now, the private realm? That’s different.

You have complete authority — unless you’re reasonably suspected of breaking the law — to decide who can or cannot enter your home. Private businesses, private places of worship, private outhouses can establish many of their own policies, though federal discrimination laws in the treatment of others remain firm.

You don’t want the local bird-watching club huddled in your living room? Tell ‘em to take their binoculars and bird books elsewhere.

In the meantime, let’s remember public buildings are for the public.

And don’t forget that once upon a time in this great state, we abided by the simple law of Live and Let Live. Nobody boinked any of us with a magic wand and anointed us gatekeepers of truth and righteousness.