Should businesses have the right to decline service for same-sex orders or events?
The balance between religious liberty and anti-discrimination laws sparks ongoing debate, with supporters advocating for the rights of business owners to act according to their faith and critics emphasizing equal treatment for all customers. This discussion examines where to draw the line between individual convictions and public accommodation. #religiousliberty#antidiscrimination#publicaccommodation#christianforums#crosswalkforums#forums#crosswalk#faithcommunity#faithforums
The question of whether businesses should have the right to refuse service for same-sex orders or events, such as wedding cakes or party catering, continues to spark heated debate. On one side, proponents argue that business owners have a right to exercise their religious beliefs and conscience in the services they provide. On the other hand, critics contend that denying service is discriminatory and undermines the principle of equal treatment for all customers.
This issue raises complex questions about the balance between religious liberty and anti-discrimination laws. Should businesses be allowed to decline certain orders or events based on their moral or religious convictions? Or should serving all customers equally take precedence, regardless of the business owner’s personal beliefs?
What do you think? Where should the line be drawn between religious freedom and public accommodation?
As a business owner, I have the right to refuse service to anyone- provided a valid reason that is not deemed to be discriminatory. That’s is-- I can’t simply deny service because you are a man, for example.
Yet, as with the wedding cake cases, the Supreme Court has already ruled in favor of the Butchers, Bakers, and Candlestick Makers, saying that they retain their first amendment rights to exercise free speech-- which shall not be infringed upon by “forcing” them to say or do something that violates their morality, religion, or conscience.
That is-- you can’t force a baker to make you a transgender cake to celebrate your dysphoria.
It’s likely only a matter of time however, before some Forum Owner is challenged and accused of discriminating against individuals or groups based upon their religious beliefs.
It happens all the time, where a Forum like this one, will ban people because that person doesn’t ‘believe’ the same way they espouse. In standing up for their right to free speech and religious freedom, they are preventing someone else from doing the same. When private businesses, including bakeries and forums open themselves to the public, there is an expectation that they won’t discriminate people’s protected rights.
Hi,
Yes they should have that right.
Usually, there is a sign in restaurants saying, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”
Sandy Kofax, a pitcher for LA Dodgers, had in his contract, a no pitch on the Sabbath clause.
Chi-Fil-A is not open on Sundays.
What makes cake decorators so different? They are not acting out of discrimination. They are exercising their religious beliefs.
From Google:
According to a landmark Supreme Court case, “Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission,” cake decorators do not have to make same-sex wedding cakes if doing so would violate their religious beliefs, as the Court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission displayed hostility towards the baker’s religious views in this specific case, essentially allowing the baker to refuse service based on his religious objections to same-sex marriage; however, this decision is narrow and does not definitively establish a blanket right for businesses to deny service based on religious beliefs related to same-sex marriage in all situations.
Yes, they should have the choice without worrying about consequences. On the other hand, it might become a great time too maybe bring someone to the Lord.