# Why should religion be free to discriminate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-religion-be-free-to-discriminate/762964>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 15, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-religion-be-free-to-discriminate/762964 "2016-08-15T23:49:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-religion-be-free-to-discriminate/762964/141 "2016-08-29T21:49:06Z")

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> [@doreen](#):
>
> The quote is “No religion requires its adherents to open a bakery or photo studio but refuse to serve gay people” . That “requires” applies to the conditions on both sides of the _but_ . There are certainly religions that might require their adherents to refuse to serve gay people. There are probably more that require adherents not to provide wedding-related products for a gay wedding. I know of _no_ religion that requires its adherents to work at or own a business requiring wedding related products - that is, a religion that requires its adherents to work as a wedding photographer, or operate a bakery that provides wedding cakes or even that puts inscriptions on ordinary cakes ( not all do ). Their religion doesn’t prevent them from opening a school/yearbook photography business or a cupcake bakery. If there is a religion out there that requires people to work as wedding photographers or to only operate bakeries that provide wedding cakes , please provide a cite.

Thank you. This is exactly my point. I didn’t realize my post had been replied to or I would’ve come back and defended myself sooner.

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**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-religion-be-free-to-discriminate/762964/142 "2016-09-04T06:28:15Z")

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> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> That type of legislation would violate the establishment clause. Do you have a cite confirming that such legislation has been proposed? That is actually introduced in the legislature?

> **[Bills would require clergy to sign off on marriages](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2015/06/19/gay-marriage-legislation-religion-michian/29018125/)**
>
> Backers cite religious freedom; LGBT groups say bills aim to thwart possible High Court ruling against gay marriage bans

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