People seem to forget that political views are differences in opinion about policy. Things such as how tax dollars should be spent, whether gun control laws should be stricter or more lenient, or what role the government should play in healthcare and education. These are legitimate debates about governance/priorities.
Misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, or any other forms of bigotry are not ‘political beliefs.’ They are not policy positions, they are expressions of hatred, discrimination, and prejudice. They directly violate the principles of human rights and equality.
The difference is political beliefs can be debated and compromised upon, but hate speech and bigotry target people’s very existence and deny them safety, dignity, and equal treatment. Labeling discrimination as a ‘political opinion’ minimizes the harm it causes and is a way to excuse abuse.
The point is, disagreement about taxes is politics. Dehumanizing people based on race, gender, sexuality, or identity is just pure hatred.
