(Scoboco)
Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the state of New Hampshire for two years, but a bill before the state legislature could allow businesses, like caterers, florists, and dress shops, to refuse their services to these couples.
The bill’s co-sponsor, state representative Frank Sapareto, says he created the legislation so that members of the clergy would not have to perform ceremonies that don’t fit in with their particular beliefs. But others point out that men and women of the cloth are already not legally obligated to marry same-sex couples, or any coupling for that matter.
According to Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, MA:
The proposed text says no person, including a business owner or employee, should be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges for wedding services in “violation of the person’s conscience or religious faith.”
The bill also would protect against lawsuits arising from refusal to provide those services.
Opponents of the legislation claim that it would effectively allow business owners to discriminate against couples, regardless of sexual orientation, whose religious beliefs aren’t their own.
“All discrimination is wrong and should not be codified in state law,” said Democratic Party spokesman Harrell Kirstein, using the example that under the proposed law, “A Protestant baker could refuse to bake a cake for a Catholic wedding.”
As for those who oppose the legislation, Representative Sapareto says, “They’re completely intolerant.”
NH bill would allow refusal of services to gay couples [EagleTribune.com]
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It will only invite people to discriminate against people for any reason they want to. Half of Mississippi does not think the races should mix, I bet a bill down there would cause a drop in Interracial marriage.
im not going to be able to read all these comments, and im sure someone must have said it by now, but the thing i dont understand is that if there is a business that doesnt want to serve gay people, black people, etc., why would someone that fits that class of people want to patronize their establishment? even if the law forces the restaurant owner to serve you, hes probably just going to rub his balls all over your food and spit in your drink, with no other provocation (like being an asshole, which will usually accomplish the ball rubbing). why would you want to force someone to serve you when you know you are going to get subpar service on your food, wedding arrangements, customer service, or whatever that particular business does? im not saying its right or that i support bigotry in any way, i just dont understand why people would want to give their money to someone who hates them and STILL not going to treat them like the rest of their customers
In Canada you can’t do that, you’ll get taken to court. My high school English teacher is gay, and he and his partner were barred from a florist who refused to sell to them because of their sexual orientation. He took it to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, sued them, and he won. They had to close the business.
No one is forcing them to do business with anyone. But legislating their intolerance is intolerable. When are people going to get their collective heads out of their asses about this stuff? I am so tired of living here with all this SHIT floating around. The US is turning into a giant toilet bowl.
Sure, they should be allowed to refuse service. They should also be able to be boycotted.
Maybe they should be forced to put out a sign: “We really don’t want to do business with gay people”.
No one is forcing them to do business with anyone. But legislating their intolerance is intolerable. When are people going to get their collective heads out of their asses about this stuff? I am so tired of living here with all this SHIT floating around. The US is turning into a giant toilet bowl.
I think businesses should post signs at their entrances, in clear view, detailing exactly what types of people they will not serve, similar to the perfectly legal “No Pets” signs. That way I won’t make the mistake of patronizing any businesses with any such signs.
Sorry but for some of us this is a deep religious issue… if a private business wants to provide a service to someone, that’s their business, and if they don’t, that’s their business. People will vote with their feet one way or another, but do realize that just as their are plenty of people who will walk away from such business, there are plenty of people who would go out of their way to support them on this particular issue.
That’s why I’m glad that the NY law allows opt out exemptions for religious reasons.
“Sorry but for some of us this is a deep religious issue..”
So your religious views are hate and bigotry? Good to know!
Do you wear mixed-fabric clothing? Are you fucking without being married/ Do you eat shrimp? If so, you’re one heck of a hypocrite!
And you realize that refusing service to black people was once considered a “deep personal issue”, right? Bigots such as yourself are on the wrong side of history. How proud you must be of your disgusting hatred!
We’re turning into Iran. They run everything by religion. And look how backward they went when the fundamentalists took over. Faith is fine; being an ignorant bigot and using God to back up a bunch of hateful bullshit is not.
Before you say anything, RELIGION IS A HUMAN CONSTRUCT. I don’t think God cares too much or gay people wouldn’t even exist. Also, it’s not a choice for most people. Go look up some research and blow the cobwebs out yer brain.
Small sign in window:
“We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone… especially people who do stuff we don’t like, or that smell funny, and especially people that act weird.”
Add a requirement that any business refusing to serve same-sex patrons much place a sign in 144pt font on their door indicating such.
Well, on the one hand, I would never feel right forcing a business to do business with whom they do not like.
On the other hand, they would have to be idiots to refuse the money that the legalization of same sex partnerships would no doubt bring in.
On a third hand, I would rather not a business be forced to do business as they might intentionally do a half assed job, for instance a sub par tasting dinner that sends people fo the bathroom, or sneaking insults onto the cake.
I am sorry if I sound like a bigot on this, but I agree with the business.
We Reserve the Right to Refuse Business.
I wouldn’t work with a client that didn’t speak english, got the reason that they wouldn’t know what I was telling them to do, so it took 3 to 4 times as long and I lost business, meaning lost money.
I would do 1 to 2 non fluent photo shoots vs 8 to 10 that were fluent in the same 2 hour period. which ones do you think I made money on?
I would think this specific issue could be more challenging to provide for situations like this. from a business stand point, I really understand. if you know how to handle a certain situation and know where to put what, then you know how to make sure your client is happy. if you are doing business just for the money, you will not give your all, thus not pleasing the client. if your client is not happy, the negative word of mouth is detrimental to your business, thus lowering your bottom line.
So you’re a bigot, then.
“I don’t mean to sound racist, but…”
Same thing, different words.
You do realize that no, you cannot refuse service on the basis of discrimination, right?
“I wouldn’t work with a client that didn’t speak english”
“That” is for objects. “Who” is for people. “English” as a language is always capitalized.
You may want to learn a thing or two about that language that’s so important to you.
Exactly the same reasoning that was used to justify slavery and the holocaust.
Next thing you know, businesses will be allowed to discriminate against people not wearing shirts or shoes. This doesn’t need to be legal or illegal, people forget that there are other ways to handle things outside of a court of law.
Stage a legal protest outside of their store, make international news, start your own cake shop, I’m sure there are plenty of ways to deal with this. You can’t outlaw jerks, nor should you.
This is not the same as saying someone should tolerate that behavior. If you don’t think its right, by all means, be mad as hell, do something about it. Plenty can and will support you, plenty will probably support the other side. It’ll work out.
I was never a huge spongebob fan, but recently I was watching an episode with my kids, and Patrick said something like “Who did this to you spongebob? Tell me and we’ll handle this like men — we’ll sue ‘em.”
Gay folks sure do get a whole lot of attention and press to address their grievances. If nothing else Gay lobbying efforts rock!
If I had a business that offered a service for a fee I would sell that service to anyone that would pay. I would not care if they were marrying a fudgesicle, I would bake them a cake, print a banner, make frilly crap with their initials on it or whatever else wedding related businesses do.
A private business should reserve the right to refuse service to anyone they want. This doesn’t make the bigotry and intolerance right but nonetheless should be respected as a freedom. Why would you want to give your money to a business that would do this anyway?
I can see this extending to pharmacists not supplying the morning after pill due to religious beliefs. That happens already, but a bill like this would make it illegal to sue the pharmacy. Slippery slope…