The Issue Seems Straightforward
Editor:
Last month, the Supreme Court heard the case of a web designer who refuses to work on websites for same-sex couples. The plaintiff said that Colorado's public accommodations law, which prevents businesses from refusing to serve people based on race, religion, or sexual orientation violates her right of free speech. She says that she does not "believe in" gay marriage. That's an interesting way to look at it, I don't believe in any gods or goddesses, but I regularly provide a service to people who do. I don't have to embrace or even acknowledge their belief system to help them. Recently the Forum featured new local business 'Foxworthy Floral' whose owners are faith leaders at 3Crosses church. Head pastor Danny Strange told me that "We have unity as a leadership around the Scripture's teachings regarding same-sex relationships.” Which explains why that church turned away a gay couple who wanted to marry there. The good news is that they left, their pastor left with them, and he married them at another local church which does not reject gay couples. Several years ago, when Prop 8 was repealed and gay couples could finally get married, I contacted wedding vendors in the area. I wrote to florists, wedding planners and wedding venues, bakers, jewelers, dress designers and tuxedo rental businesses. If it was related to weddings, I contacted the business. Nearly every business responded, and every single one of them said yes, of course they would work with gay couples and their weddings. It was so great. With that in mind, I wrote to the new floral business owners to ask them if they will be serving everyone in our community. Their website states “Private Events…weddings…we’d love to be a part of it.” Great! But will they design and sell flowers for all weddings or just some weddings? I received no response. I wrote to them again. Still no answer. Their silence likely gives me their response. I understand that I am a super scary and persistent LGBTQ activist, but the issue seems straightforward: your business either serves all the public, or it does not. So, if you are going to shop for flowers at the cool new truck place, maybe you would find out who they will or won't serve before you spend your money there.
–Billy Bradford, Castro Valley
