BigJohn
Footballguy
Pandora's box is about to be opened, and I'm ok with that, but here goes...What if you replace the lesbian couple with an interracial heterosexual couple. Putting aside the fact that it's illegal to discriminate based on race, should a business owner be allowed to discriminate based on race?And, while I don't agree with his choice, I support his right to decide on his own, what services he does or does not provide. Replace the cake in the bakery example with his pictures in this case and it's the same thing.This just happened in Bexley Ohio (about a 5 minute drive west of downtown Columbus).Since the bakery is the popular example, I'll address it.My problem with 1 (not my only problem...but one of them) is that the ultra religious baker likely does not turn down someone who has committed other sins and makes their cake but will typically turn down gays. I doubt the baker is doing background checks to make sure she is not making a cake for an adulterer. Does she make cakes for gluttons too? Well, probably...it is cake after all.I do think it's an interesting question on how to deal with these two scenarios:
1. Ultra-religious baker who is offended by a gay couple getting married. Does he/she have to bake the wedding cake for them?
2. Gay person working at Kinkos who is offended by an ultra-religious person who wants to print signs that say "God Hates ####". Does the gay Kinkos employee have to print the sign?
i.e. Should we have laws that force people to put aside their personal beliefs and provide goods and services to any and all that want them? Or, should we allow business owners to discriminate and only serve those that they don't personally find offensive?
Again, I think we've seen that the latter fails. Can you imagine planning a road trip across America and having to avoid certain states because they won't fill up your tank or sell you lunch because you're traveling with a gay companion, or a black companion, or a Muslim???
The gay kinkos employee could likely appeal to his/her boss and say he/she would rather not make such copies. How it works after that...I don't know.
If a gay couple comes into a Christian bakery and order a birthday cake, in no way shape or form, should the baker be allowed to refuse service to them. But, if they order a cake with a pro-lgbt message, they should be able to refuse, based on the service, not the people he's serving.
The refusal should be based on the service requested, not the individual's beliefs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2998274/Videographer-refuses-film-sex-couple-s-wedding-spiritual-beliefs.html
Race is not a choice, so, no, I don't believe a business owner should be allowed to discriminate based on race.
Ready.....go!