(November 30, 2013 at 3:51 am)Raven Wrote: I am afraid that I must partially disagree. Yes, it is horrible that they think they have a right to discriminate, and are bigots. End of story right there. Full stop.
It is a public accommodation. That means you serve the public. You have no right to refuse service. If you don't like it, find another way to earn your living. Are we getting all libertarian around here?
So people should be able to refuse to serve gay couples, or my wife and I because I'm white and she's Latin? I don't think so.
Please don't get me wrong: I am pro- everything civil rights. I owned a shop in which, yes, I was absolutely allowed to refuse service, but I never did unless a customer had a bad history there, like stealing or causing fights, both of which happened on several occasions- two involving two different Christians.
And, you realize that there are a lot of different people on this forum, and that the term "atheist" has absolutely nothing to do with political views, right?
Look, We're talking about private businesses here. I respect the small governments where they have signed anti-discrimination laws for private businesses, but I don't necessarily agree. It's not up to us to teach businesses lessons with laws (for the most part), but with our lack of business to their establishments.
Look at it this way: discrimination is dying with the old people in this world, and as it gets tolerated less and less, there will be fewer businesses that thrive if any of their policies are based on discrimination. I, for one, appreciate that these people turned this gay couple away, because now I know where not to do business.
I do feel bad for the couple though. I don't get discriminated against on a regular basis, so I can only empathize with what that must feel like.
