When businesses open their doors to the public, they must open them to everyone on the same terms, regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, or – under many state laws – sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Even when a business owner’s religious beliefs may motivate her to discriminate, that doesn’t justify an exemption from our civil rights laws. Providing commercial services, like selling cakes, doesn’t mean a business owner is endorsing anyone’s marriage. It simply means they are following the rules that apply to us all.
Demands for religious exemptions from civil rights laws are not new. In the past, businesses have repeatedly sought to pay women less than men because of a religious belief that men are “heads of household” and women should not work outside the home.
businesses have refused service to people living with HIV because of a belief that they are sinful.
restaurants refusing to serve blacks
NO DISABLED ALLOWED
NO COLORED ALLOWED
The courts rightly rejected all of these claims for religious exemptions, despite the fact that they were based on deeply held beliefs.
In which these violations would you support the offender?