I just hope these bakers are as diligent in refusing cakes to fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners and all others who will not “inherit the kingdom of God."
Otherwise we might think that they are just homophobic and not concerned about the rest of their equally strong reigious injunctions.
Then they should not enter into a same sex marriage.
That is precisely what he is doing when he pretends the rules that govern the marketplace don’t apply to him.
It is entirely their choice to enter the marketplace and own a business, but they have to abide by the laws duly passed to regulate commerce. If that offends their deeply held religious beliefs, they should exercise the same restraint they express towards participating in the weddings of gays; don’t do it.
Dude, I didn’t change the subject from buying a cake to Enforcing God’s Will, the baker did. I walked in and said “Hi, can I have a cake?” and the baker said “You’re a disgusting sodomite, get out of my Christian shop!” I’m sure gay couples would LOVE to focus on the fucking cake, instead of focusing on how much the Baker hates them and their society destroying lifestyle. Seriously, can we just talk about the cake instead of why I shouldn’t be allowed to get married? Is that an option?
It’s not “an issue” it’s whether or not I should be treated as an equal, whether I should have equal rights, whether I should or shouldn’t be relegated to the back of the proverbial bus.
What you are missing here, I think, is an understanding of the legal concept of “public accommodation.” US civil law contains provisions that apply to every such entity–any entity used by the public, whether or not it is a privately-owned business.
A private club would not be a “public accommodation,” whereas a restaurant or open-to-the-public club would be. Laws differ for public accommodations as opposed to private entities, but the crucial point is that it doesn’t matter whether or not the public accommodation is privately owned.
If you want to own and operate a public accommodation–a bakery; an amusement park; a barber shop; a catering business, etc.–then you must accept that your particular religious feelings do NOT override the laws that apply to public accommodations.
It doesn’t matter how “devout” you are. If you want to own and operate a public accommodation, then you are bound by the laws that govern such entities. If you are too devout to obey those laws, then you should not own or operate a public accommodation.
Doesn’t matter two shits either way. A guy might go into a gun shop and ask to look at hunting rifles; if the clerk says, “I won’t sell you a gun, because you’re gay,” he’s breaking the law (in some states.) The gun has nothing whatever to do with his sexual preference. It’s the denial of equal access to commerce that’s the problem.