To start, I don't have it out for the
LGBT community. I don't mind what they choose to do with each other
using their own resources, more so when they aren't compelling me to
partake. This doesn't necessarily compel me to celebrate the recent
SCOTUS decision. This post isn't going to bemoan the SCOTUS
decision, or lament the cultural decay of the West. However, it will
take a long hard look at what has happened to freedom of association.
If you've been living in a cave for a
little bit, you likely haven't heard of the case involving Aaron and
Melissa Klein, a married couple from Oregon who own a bakery called
Sweet Cakes. They've recently declined the opportunity to serve
Laurel Bowman-Cryer and Rachel Cryer, a lesbian couple slated to get
married. Why deny the opportunity to sell your product? It turns out
that the Klein's are devout Christians, and it so happens that
Christians, as many religious groups are inclined, find homosexuality
offensive in the eyes of the Lord.
It seems the engaged couple may have
missed the memo over the past few thousand years. Traditional
religious participants across a wide variety of faiths still, and
will continue to, find homosexuality offensive. This includes several
denominations of Christianity (except the Unitarians), Islam,
Judaism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, and likely
more.
So outraged by this shocking and
unheard of revelation, Laurel saw fit to file a complaint with the
Department of Justice. She was further outraged to learn that, as a
direct result of her action with a public entity, sensitive private
information of hers could be learned very easily. It is important to
note the liberal left's outrage at this, completely disregarding the
fact that this same tactic was used to map private,
registered, and law abiding gun owners in the state of New York
following the Sandy Hook massacre. While the left cheered then, they
certainly aren't cheering now.
The situation begs inquiring minds to
ask, “When am I allowed to make a decision to not partake? Am I
still within my rights to associate with who I do or don't want to?”
While I anticipate that most of the
readers here have no sympathies or associations with the left, I
submit the following scenarios to the left. I'm genuinely interested
in response from those who sit left of center on social issues, so
please send this to your friends that are likely default fans of the
Cryer couple.
A Jewish baker is approached by a Neo Nazi group. Said Neo Nazi group wants to celebrate
the Holocaust, and commission the Jewish baker to craft a cake in the
shape of a Swastika. Is the baker within his rights to refuse
service?
An african american seamstress is
approached by a Klansman that has torn his signature robes and
hoods, rendering the garments unwearable. Said Klansman commision the
seamstress to repair the garments. Is the seamstress within her
rights to refuse service?
A homosexual artist is commissioned to
paint a mural by malignant individuals who want to celebrate the
anniversary of the death of Harvey Milk. Is the artist within his
rights to refuse service?
I imagine this still isn't enough for
the social justice crowd, so I'll keep going.
What if an Armenian catering company
was asked to cater a celebration of the Armenian Genocide? Or a
Lakota sculptor was asked to make a statue of James W. Forsyth,
colonel and leader of the Wounded Knee Massacre?
I can hear the objections already.
“It's not the same, you can't possibly compare.” These scenarios
may not be comparable in name, but they are certainly comparable in
spirit. The issue at hand isn't individual instances, but the ability
to coerce an individual to partake in an activity that said
individual finds offensive. Should said individual refuse, they run
risk of enduring the same fate as the Klein family.
Social Justice advocates who are
cheering for Laurel, Rachel, and the powers that be in Oregon should
be just as concerned as the spiritually devout. An unfortunate and
disastrous precedent has been set where having a set of values leaves
you utterly vulnerable and at the mercy of courts, lawyers, and
bureaucrats.
A refusal of service due to belief
isn't unheard of, but also encouraged, by the likes of those who
would defend the Cryers. In the case of Governor Susanna Martinez,
she has been refused service by Antonio Darden, her former
hairdresser and a homosexual. The reason? Her stance on gay marriage.
Consider, for a moment, if Governor
Susanna Martinez did to Antonio Darden as the Cryer's are doing to
the Klein's. Consider, a quote from Antonio Darden provided by the
Huffington Post, regarding his refusal to provide a product and
service he would otherwise provide, particularly regarding the
formula for coloring the Governor's hair:
"A lot of people think that the
formula, when it’s made from a hair colorist, that it’s your
right to have," he explained. “It isn’t. You came here for
me to formulate and do your hair color. Normally I sell the formula
to people if they want to go to a different salon that is cheaper. I
normally give the formula to clients if they’re moving out of state
because I care about my clients. But I would not give that formula to
her."
Per Darden, many businesses are
following suit and refusing business to Governor Martinez. I can't
imagine those advocating for the Cryer's would advocate for Governor
Martinez, even considering the spirit of the situation is identical.
Both Darden and the Klein's are within their rights ethically.
They've made a choice to not spend their resources to provide
service. They've since not taken anything tangible from the party
requesting service. The relationship has ended, and everyone should
move on to other opportunities.
To otherwise be compelled to serve an
activity or individual one finds offensive is something that, looking
through the broader scope, effects all of us, and may ultimately
discourage otherwise capable individuals from participating in the
market as owners and entrepreneurs, and one can only wonder what
innovative goods and services society will not see as a result.
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