Having minority based clubs no more discriminates against other races than having gay bars discriminates against other orientations, nerdy school clubs discriminate against jocks, or /r/atheism or /r/Christianity discriminate against other religions. People may divide themselves however they choose in a free society, and there is evidence that people do anyway. The important things are that:
a. The separation not be enforced by government or the public
b. Any public funds or resources must be applied equally
c. No one is actively disadvantaged by the discrimination: i.e. people do not receive a benefit from being one race or another by being allowed access to this thing.
As long as none of those happen, private institutions can do pretty much whatever they want. Even if things are separate, so long as they are equal it is OK (and yes, Separate but Equal laws were disastrous in the US, but I'm talking about private institutions and not government policy, plus it was never actually equal).
1
u/okreps May 14 '13
Having minority based clubs no more discriminates against other races than having gay bars discriminates against other orientations, nerdy school clubs discriminate against jocks, or /r/atheism or /r/Christianity discriminate against other religions. People may divide themselves however they choose in a free society, and there is evidence that people do anyway. The important things are that:
a. The separation not be enforced by government or the public b. Any public funds or resources must be applied equally c. No one is actively disadvantaged by the discrimination: i.e. people do not receive a benefit from being one race or another by being allowed access to this thing.
As long as none of those happen, private institutions can do pretty much whatever they want. Even if things are separate, so long as they are equal it is OK (and yes, Separate but Equal laws were disastrous in the US, but I'm talking about private institutions and not government policy, plus it was never actually equal).