If the free masons are not a religion, why can't they be compelled through court orders to accept gays in to their membership? There is no freedom of religion to protect here, only anti-discrimination laws.
it's a private club and each lodge could have it's own byrules, this is apart from the fact that new members must be approved by existing members before being accepted into the lodge. They vote by white and black ball (like many others) and one black ball and you are not 'in'. It's where the expression 'being blackballed' came from. Even if legislation enforces equality of applicants to the lodge, the individual lodge decides whether or not to accept an individual - existing freemason from elsewhere or prospective apprentice makes no difference.
My husband, a Freemason, is not happy about this. He has not joined a lodge here in Georgia because of their antiquated ruling on this. He's still a member in Colorado and Florida, who do not have this ruling.
Each grand lodge sets the rules for lodges in their jurisdiction. The people who run Freemasons for Dummies are not happy about the grand lodges setting these rulings either.
It will kill Masonry, because the upcoming future Masons don't care who you love. Are you a good person is what they care about.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised it (Freemasonry) still exists. My wife's cousin is a high ranking mason in Spokane and it is literally the whole focus of his life....just like a TBM.