Bearded protesters lash out against discriminatory bill, claim to be ‘born this way’

Caption
The owners of facial hair such as this could be subject to discrimination under Senate Bill 1042, which was passed by state Legislature on Friday and is awaiting a decision from Gov. Jan Brewer. (Fu Manchu/PD)

Protesters marched Monday on the Capitol to urge Gov. Jan Brewer to veto Senate Bill 1042, which some believe could be used to discriminate against people with beards.

“If you take away our rights, we will take away our razors,” one protester with a beard reaching his nether regions called through a megaphone.

The bill, passed by state Legislature on Friday, is only one line long, something opposers say will be used for broad interpretations.

Senator Jill Etté, who wrote the bill, said modern society has been “hijacked” by people with beards, or “those lumberjack hipsters.” In order to protect society for “the modern gentleman,” Arizona should only support clean-shaven faces.

“Business owners have the right to refuse service to people with beards if it offends their delicate sensibilities,” reads SB 1042, nicknamed Senate’s Beard by protesters.

Brewer, who returned to Arizona from Washington D.C. on Monday, has been coy with the press and avoided giving any details that would hint at how she will respond to the bill.

The opposition argued that the law could lead to hairy situations. They said men with beards were not being treated as equal citizens. Some said the law would even discriminate against women.

“Some women have beards,” lead protester Chin Muffler said.

Opposition leaders also questioned what qualifies as a beard and whether length would be a factor.

Legislators amended the bill before it passed on Monday to clarify a beard to mean any facial hair longer than a five o’clock shadow.

“If we’re talking about a six o’clock shadow, that’s over the line,” Sen. Nair said.

Protester Jaw Bristle was infuriated by the amendment. He said his beard naturally grows quickly and sometimes he has to shave twice a day.

“I can’t help the way my beard grows,” Bristle said. “I was born this way. What do you expect me to do? Carry a razor in my bag and shave during my lunch break?”

Sen. Etté said opposers were attempting to turn the bill into a straw man with “outlandish claims as dirty as their beards.”

Additional controversy broke Monday night when protesters accused Americans Defending Faces, the bill’s main backer, of receiving funding from razor companies. Although Executive Director Nota Fuzz denied the claims, photos emerged on social media of her handing out razors during an ADF meeting. The American Facial Liberties Union of Arizona has spoken out against the bill.

Local business owner Jennifer Klenly said she supported the bill and hoped other facial hair would also be included.

“I don’t think I can serve someone with a mustache if I believe in goatees,” Klenly said.

Klenly, who owns a coffee shop, said a man with a mustache once entered her store. He bought a cup of coffee, drank it and then left the cup at the table.

“It was a truly frightening experience,” Klenly said. “I was shaking the rest of the day.”

Klenly refused to comment further after she was asked if her shaking was related to high intake of caffeine.

Other downtown residents, however, were upset with the bill. Some took to wearing shirts that said, “I mustache you a question, do you believe in beard rights?” Others grew their beards or wore fake costume beards to stand in solidarity with the opposition.

“Wait, I’m confused, what’s the bill against again?” downtown resident Nicole Green said. “When has there ever been a problem with bearded men?”

4,381 thoughts on “Bearded protesters lash out against discriminatory bill, claim to be ‘born this way’”

  1. Simply desire to say your article is as astounding. The clearness on your post is just nice and that i could think you are knowledgeable on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the rewarding work.

  2. I’ve been surfing on-line more than 3 hours today, but I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It is lovely worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you did, the net might be much more useful than ever before.

  3. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I have really loved surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!

  4. It’s in reality a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  5. It¦s truly a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  6. I’m usually to running a blog and i actually admire your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your website and keep checking for new information.

  7. Greetings from Florida! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, superb site!

  8. You really make it seem so easy along with your presentation however I to find this topic to be really one thing which I feel I would by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and very wide for me. I am having a look forward in your next put up, I¦ll try to get the dangle of it!

  9. Hi there, just become aware of your blog through Google, and located that it’s really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate for those who continue this in future. Many other folks will probably be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  10. That is really attention-grabbing, You’re a very professional blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for searching for more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!

  11. Hello, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!

  12. I?¦ve recently started a website, the info you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.

  13. Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  14. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  15. I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.

  16. An attention-grabbing discussion is worth comment. I feel that you need to write extra on this topic, it won’t be a taboo topic but usually people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  17. I?¦ll immediately clutch your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me understand so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  18. Great weblog here! Also your site quite a bit up very fast! What web host are you the usage of? Can I get your associate hyperlink to your host? I want my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  19. Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is really irritating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.

  20. Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.

  21. I do love the manner in which you have framed this particular challenge plus it does supply me personally a lot of fodder for thought. Nevertheless, because of just what I have personally seen, I really hope as other remarks pile on that people today stay on point and don’t start upon a tirade regarding the news of the day. Yet, thank you for this excellent piece and though I can not necessarily concur with this in totality, I regard your perspective.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *