Refusing to Do Business with Homosexuals
“The open-minded see the truth in different things: the narrow-minded see only the differences.” — Anonymous
Here’s one to stir the pot on a Monday morning. Rick Casey, a columnist at the Houston Chronicle, recently provided commentary about a landscaping company that refused to perform work for Michael Lord and Gary Lackey, a gay couple building a home in the historic district of Houston Heights. It’s an interesting read and he concludes that it’s a nasty world out there. The original column can be found at We Refuse to Work for Homosexuals and part two at Landscapers Reap Harvest of Anger.
I wanted to point out two comments from another post on this topic at The Consumerist:
“I wonder what that policy is intended to accomplish. Did they hope Michael would weigh his options, and decide it was easier to straighten out than to forego their valuable sod? And what do they think would happen if they did do work for a homosexual? ‘Damn, that wily butt-pirate tricked us into installing a decorative boulder. Now we’re one step closer to the end of marriage!'”
Here’s a view from the other side:
“I don’t see anything wrong with what the landscape designer did. As a matter of fact I think Sabrina (at the Garden Guy) was right to be ‘straight’ about their business decision. Because that is a business decision. People are not always going to believe the same things and we all make economic decisions based on our convictions. I choose to never eat at CrackerBarrel because their majority owner is the Southern Baptist Church and for years they had an employment policy that did not include homosexuals. I think they have changed it but I still don’t ever go there. Also, I resent any restaurant that forces people to wait in their gift shop for twenty minutes before being seated. The point is I don’t understand the outrage. There are always other people out there that are happy to take our money and ultimately we make the decision where to place it.”
Yes, we do make the decision where to place our money. But do businesses have the right to discriminate and refuse service just because we’re gay. Apparently, that’s the case in Houston. Houston, we have a problem.
Back in 2004, a Seattle, Washington business refused to print wedding invitations for a same-sex couple. Austin Cline writes, “It’s not OK for someone to discriminate on the basis of race, but it should be OK for someone to discriminate on the basis of ‘personal moral or religious convictions.’ When people recoil from selling wedding invitations to an interracial couple, we call them bigots; when people recoil from selling wedding invitations to a same-sex couple, they are suddenly heroes of the Christian Right and lauded for standing up against political correctness.”
“Dismissing laws that ban discrimination against gays because this forces people to go against ‘personal moral or religious convictions’ would create the same loophole in all other anti-discrimination laws. Such a loophole was not allowed before and there is no reason why it should be created now. Yes, people who don’t like gays will suddenly have to treat them like everyone else – but I have no more pity for them than I do for the people who have to treat blacks, Jews, or women just like everyone else. If you have a ‘personal moral or religious conviction’ against treating gay, black, Jewish, or female customers like everyone else, then don’t open up a public business.”
Rick Casey concludes his commentary on the gay gardening scandal with, “I commended the Farbers (Garden Guy owners) for standing by their principles in an age in which money trumps all. They might, however, consider climbing up one more rung on the moral ladder. They should refuse to do business with all sinners.”
Gay or straight, we’re all sinners in the eyes of the Christian God. But straight money must be less sinful according to the Farbers. Everyone has the right to spend their money where and how they see fit. But can business owners refuse to take my money just because I’m gay?
“But can business owners refuse to take my money just because I’m gay? ”
Unfortunately, yes. However, some areas may have laws of public accommodation that might make this type of activity illegal. I know here in Syracuse, NY we do have the laws on the books in our city and county jurisdictions.
That being said- they can’t refuse us- but who would want to do business with someone clearly at odds with them if it wasn’t 100% necessary? Would you want someone doing a half a$$ed job of your landscaping because of potential legal threats you could make against them? I think I’d pay to have someone flown in from the West Coast before I’d go thru with that! And in ultimately supporting someone who is a hater- who is to say where any of their profits might be going!? Undoubtedly into the coffers of some hate filled preacher type to further try to limit our powers!
We had an experience years ago at a chain restaurant. I will preface my story in letting you know that my partner & I are somewhat easily identified as lesbians- moreso from her gender expression (very butch- mmm!) We were seated in the back of the restaurant- practically in the bathrooms- when the restaurant was nearly empty (going for an early dinner). We complained and then were given a hard time about relocating. When the food came, I found four pieces of cardboard in my dish (mushroom tortellini, usually my favorite)! When I complained about this, the waiter got all snippy about it and refused to take it back. I called the manager over, who in turn advised that “people like us” should be happy to get any service at all. It was at this point, I motioned to Susan and we just up and left. She wanted to argue the finer definition of the laws re: public accommodation; I just wanted to get dinner before the show and not be fed cardboard by haters.
Ultimately, we did deal with the national chain of the restaurant and told them of our experience in a very lengthy, well thought out letter. We advised them that the story would be going to our newspaper in a reasonable amount of time if they did not contact us to formulate an action plan to prevent any further problems. We also outlined how this same restaurant had gotten bad local press in how they had treated foreign college students about two months before we had tried to eat there. It only took two days until we received multiple calls, apologies, and received word that the local manager was to be going for diversity training & out of work for two weeks without pay. The waiter was also to attend the diversity training. We were given the opportunity to also review the diversity training literature and offer any input towards further support. We also got many gift certificates for food, which we used at a different restaurant in the chain- and I am pleased to say where we received no hassle whatsoever. We have never gone back to the original restaurant, but I hear that the management team has traded hands several times over the years since this.
My bottom line however, has to be, not to support those who who would not otherwise support us. It sounds like I’m somehow insulating myself from something- or not taking our cause out far enough- but their people sure as hell aren’t going to go out of their way to make nice with us. My eating cardboard and smiling does nothing for our causes.
Yes, I agree the Farbers can choose to do business with anyone they like. But since they have so clearly tied together their business dealings with their religious faith, they should also be prepared to accept the consequences. Many, many people (including many heterosexual Christians) will not agree with their faith, and hence will avoid their business”which of course the Farbers did with the gay couple. (And as DivaJean and partner did in their dining choices.)
The hate and threats directed at the Farbers is disturbing and unacceptable. If the intention was to change the Farbers’ minds with threats, or even a boycott, I’m pretty sure that will fail. They will probably just go into a cocoon with their little flock and pray to God to deliver them from the devil’s machinations.
I personally don’t believe you can legislate morality. You can write protections into the legal code, but you can’t change people’s internal sense of right and wrong that way. I believe the best way to turn homophobia around is to come out of the closet and allow our family, friends and colleagues to witness us living our daily lives just like anyone else. I think this will have a lot more positive impact than vitriol and violent threats.