Reply Discussion Board Topic: Religious Freedom Laws

two responses (the “Final Posts”) of at least 200 words each to classmates

Q1

I personally do not believe that a bussiness owner has the right to deny service to same-sex couples. These are progressive times and the world has been coming to accept all different kinds of people over the years. Just because slavery was permitted under law a hundred or so years ago did not make it right. The law is not always correct or moral. We now have corrected that notion and have implented all people into society regardless of skin color. The same should be true for same-sex couples.

Using the argument of religion as an objection to bake a wedding cake for gay marraige means that African-Americans should still be objected under the same logic. The religon is not the problem in this case it is the problem of a person that is unwilling to adapt to society or accept anyone that is different from themselves. The “KKK” Is nowhere near the same as a same-sex couple. The “KKK” is a harmful organization that is hateful and disriminatory. Same sex couples do no harm to anyone and are just trying to express their individual sexuality. Opposition of same-sex couples is similar to a hateful/discriminatory organization and maybe in that case people should not be working for weddings if they are opposed to any type of gender getting married.

The fact that this kind of behaviour is not outlawed can be considered a paralell from dicrimation of Africation americans during segregation. Eventually it was adopted by the government as public opinion gained tracion in favor towards equality of skin color. The same will happen with gay marraige over the years as public opinion towards it has increased tremendously over the years. Aporximately 10,000,000 people in the United States are considered part of LGBT so this issue definetly is not small. Not giving rights to a certain group of people is basically admitting that they are less than anyone else in society when this is false.

I hope to one day see a world where skin color, race, sexuality and any other types of human discrepancies are not an issue in day to day society and we can all live in harmony and peace as under one label of people/citizens of America all protected under equal law.

Question2

No, business owners and/or government officials should not be allowed to deny service to same-sex couples because of religious beliefs. Yes, we have the right of freedom of religion, whether it be Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or no religion at all. Yet our government was also founded on the idea of separation of church and state. So why is it acceptable to allow Christianity to govern us, when fundamentally our government is supposed to respect the separation of church and state.

“He does not have the absolute right to exercise and practice such beliefs in utter disregard of the clear constitutional rights of other citizens.” That is the best line I have heard and gets right to the core of this issue, and I will definitely be using it in the future. Members of the LQBTQ+ community have the right to be happy, should have the right to the same services as straight people, and absolutely should have the right to be themselves. You can feel one way about something, but if that belief goes against the rights of others, you can not practice that belief because it interferes with someone elses rights.

I think (and hope) that the case with the wedding cake will result in the motion that refusing to bake a cake for same sex marriage is inherently discrimination. If a bakery were to turn down a woman who wanted a cake because she is a woman, that would be discrimination. I cannot be refused service from a place because I am a woman. A black person can not be turned down from a restaurant just because of the color of their skin. Everyone has the right to live the exact same way as everyone else. LGBTQ+ people have the absolute right to be with the ones they love, and celebrate it too. Personally, if I was gay I would want to go to a bakery that supported me. I don’t want to give my business to someone who is disrespectful to who I am.

I am honestly amazed at how we are in 2020, almost 2021, and same sex marriage is still an issue. If you are arguing against the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, remember that the Bible calls us to love everyone.