Discrimination denies freedom. Early Sunday morning Omar Mateen killed 49 people at popular gay bar in Orlando. At least one official called it a “domestic terror incident.” It is a hate crime.

The killer’s father, Mir Seddique, said his son got “very angry” when he saw two men kissing. “This had nothing to do with religion,” according to the father. The father is wrong. This has plenty to do with religion and politics, especially when prominent religious leaders and politicians condemn homosexuality and say it is acceptable to discriminate against gays. In less extreme cases we get bakers refusing to wedding cakes for gay couples. In the most extreme cases, we get beatings and death.

Maybe disgruntled bakers would never kill anyone, but where would such people choose to stop? Would gay sex become illegal? Would courses in morality be required? Would beatings be allowed?

Regardless of how the intolerance manifests itself, it all grows from the same seed. Early Sunday morning we saw a tragic illustration why discrimination must cease and freedom must be protected!