Do Businesses Have the Right to Refuse Service Based on Moral/Religious Objections?

[Blade]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

For example, would it be ok for an owner who hates women or dislikes a certain religion or appearance, due to their personally held convictions, to deny them service based on these factors?

I have a friend who owns a restaurant/bar. He doesn't allow men without sleeves in his place and he doesn't allow people who wear their pants with the waist down to the knees. He'll send them out to get a shirt in a minute and he will ask folks to pull their pants up and keep them up in his place

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by Blade

I have a friend who owns a restaurant/bar. He doesn't allow men without sleeves in his place and he doesn't allow people who wear their pants with the waist down to the knees. He'll send them out to get a shirt in a minute and he will ask folks to pull their pants up and keep them up in his place

There's a huge difference between a dress code and deciding you don't want to serve "the gays". I mean "dress code" and "I don't want to serve the gays" don't even live on the same continent!

I can go home and put on some sleeves and pull up my pants, but I can't take off my gay.

[Lynn]

I think there can be restrictions related to health concerns (shirts and shoes required) or decorum (wear a jacket). I also think that one should be able to choose not to get into a business relationship with someone who makes them uncomfortable, like if you're thinking they won't pay or they'll be litigious. But, I don't think that anyone has the right to refuse service on the basis of being gay or other attribute.

I personally wouldn't like to do business with anyone who had trouble with my being gay. My partner and I are planning our wedding, and we've been open with all of our vendors. If we have even an inkling of discomfort on the part of a vendor, we would pass on using them. When we travel or stay in a hotel, we usually check recommendations and look for info on gay-friendly places. I think consumers have some responsibility to be aware of their options.

[EnderD_503]

I don't think businesses should have the right to deny service (unless it's an issue of behaviour/conduct like's been mentioned). I also agree with this quote:

"But if she opens her doors to sell flowers, then she must be prepared to meet and deal with the public."

Beyond the fact that it was against the law for her to deny the couple service based on their sexual orientation, I think the above also stands true. Your religious morals are for your private home and the religious institution you attend. You shouldn't take them to work with you, and they should not affect how you do business with someone.

I also fail to see where allowing businesses to deny service to people based on race, nationality, colour, sexual orientation, gender etc. will get us as far as human rights. If laws hadn't been made protecting races/ethnicities/nationalities or genders against descrimination we wouldn't be where we are today. Allowing businesses to deny service based on sexual orientation is sending us backward, not supporting social progress. Granting this kind of tolerance to intolerance is not what got us our current freedoms. It also sets up a precedence of intolerance when it comes to fighting for other rights.