Nosmo King
Gold Member
- Aug 31, 2009
- 26,381
- 7,270
Those vendors refusing to provide the same level of service to homosexuals as they provide to every other customer are not refusing to provide service on religious grounds. They are refusing service because they are bigots.
Providing services to a wedding does not rise to the threshold of "participation" in the wedding. Wedding vendors merely supply services. They are not invited guest, they are not members of the family or in the wedding party. They are not bridesmaids, best men, parents of the newly wedded couple, flower girls, ring bearers or officiates. Their function at a wedding is to provide services. In many cases, such as florists and bakers, the vendor just delivers their goods to a reception hall and never encounter the newly weds at the venue.
When bigoted vendors claim a religious exemption to public accommodation laws, they are, in fact, twisting faith to serve as legal cover. I am a Christian and I have never heard my minister admonish the congregation to avoid commerce with homosexuals. Rather he preaches that Christianity is a faith of love and forgiveness, love and brotherhood. He preaches that Christ commanded us to love one another, to judge not lest we be judged and to not cast the first stone as we all bear sin.
But, there is a movement among faux Christians to ignore the basic tenets of the faith in order to perpetuate bigotry and hatred. An odd concept born from a faith that espouses the polar opposite.
Homosexual Americans are, by in large, just as committed in their relationships as any heterosexual couple. They are active in our communities, our schools, our armed services. They are our neighbors, our first responders, our friends and our family members. I would be amazed if no one reading this post does not personally know a homosexual. Homosexuals pay taxes, vote, support our troops, are active in civic organizations and are just as sober and responsible as any other member of the community.
Those who seek to discriminate against them have no more reason to do so than their own misperceptions of the LGBT community. Homosexuals are not committing crimes by simply being homosexuals. The bigots who rush to judgment do so because they find homosexuals 'icky'. This is not a legitimate basis for discrimination.
Refusal to provide the exact same level of goods and services to a same sex wedding is tantamount to refusing to serve a racially mixed couple, or a couple based on any racial situation. that's illegal in this country. Why can't the bigots who wish homosexuality would just go back into the closet understand that basic precept of freedom and liberty?
Providing services to a wedding does not rise to the threshold of "participation" in the wedding. Wedding vendors merely supply services. They are not invited guest, they are not members of the family or in the wedding party. They are not bridesmaids, best men, parents of the newly wedded couple, flower girls, ring bearers or officiates. Their function at a wedding is to provide services. In many cases, such as florists and bakers, the vendor just delivers their goods to a reception hall and never encounter the newly weds at the venue.
When bigoted vendors claim a religious exemption to public accommodation laws, they are, in fact, twisting faith to serve as legal cover. I am a Christian and I have never heard my minister admonish the congregation to avoid commerce with homosexuals. Rather he preaches that Christianity is a faith of love and forgiveness, love and brotherhood. He preaches that Christ commanded us to love one another, to judge not lest we be judged and to not cast the first stone as we all bear sin.
But, there is a movement among faux Christians to ignore the basic tenets of the faith in order to perpetuate bigotry and hatred. An odd concept born from a faith that espouses the polar opposite.
Homosexual Americans are, by in large, just as committed in their relationships as any heterosexual couple. They are active in our communities, our schools, our armed services. They are our neighbors, our first responders, our friends and our family members. I would be amazed if no one reading this post does not personally know a homosexual. Homosexuals pay taxes, vote, support our troops, are active in civic organizations and are just as sober and responsible as any other member of the community.
Those who seek to discriminate against them have no more reason to do so than their own misperceptions of the LGBT community. Homosexuals are not committing crimes by simply being homosexuals. The bigots who rush to judgment do so because they find homosexuals 'icky'. This is not a legitimate basis for discrimination.
Refusal to provide the exact same level of goods and services to a same sex wedding is tantamount to refusing to serve a racially mixed couple, or a couple based on any racial situation. that's illegal in this country. Why can't the bigots who wish homosexuality would just go back into the closet understand that basic precept of freedom and liberty?