Donations top $100,000 for Washington florist who refused to serve gay wedding

[FlyingJesus]

Oh I'm not saying that you should be able to go "nah you're gay get out and die on the way" or whatever, but I thought that the owners of fully private businesses were under no real obligation to provide a service they don't want to provide. As a designer I'm quite free to turn down any and all jobs that don't take my fancy - it'd be stupid to do so because then I wouldn't have any work ever, but I'm not legally forced to darn everyone's socks (not that I know how to darn socks, what darning is, or whether socks still get darned) just because I pretend I'm competent with a needle

[Lewis]

What a pathetic person, the same goes for those who are donating this undeserving money to her.

I'm curious what would have happened if she refused it to a black man and a white woman getting married, I'm pretty sure (although I could be wrong) that the bible also teaches that two different races should not be together.

[Kardan]

Presumably if the woman in question just refused and made no comment on the fact that she refused because they were gay - it wouldn't be an issue?

[FlyingJesus]

Why can't all flower shops be this friendly

[GommeInc]

Both sides need shooting. Why you would give money to someone with poor business practices is ludicrous, and why you would sue a company not serving you when alternatives are available is absurd. If she's stupid to not want business then let her business fail by reputation alone.

[FlyingJesus]

Absolutely agree with all of that except maybe the shooting because I am not very violent whilst I don't think places like McDonalds or whatever should be able to say "nope you're not eating here you're a gayer" because I don't know of any religious scripture that says gays can't eat, but not wanting to cater or serve for a specific event that you don't agree with should be down to the business owners however stupid it may be. If someone doesn't want to provide flowers for a ceremony that offends them it's really no different to a graphic artist turning down an offer from WBC for a new "God hates ****" poster design on the grounds that you don't agree with what your product is being used for

[buttons]

from what i know from actually talking to religious people and not just shouting GAY BASHERS at them is that many think being gay is FINE but that their religion dictates that marriage is between a man and a woman. that's not because they think "ew gays are gross" but that marriage is a sacred thing for them and that is how it has always been. so who do we offend, religious people or gay people? i know that times are changing and religion is becoming less important but you have to remember that people her age probably don't accept change that well particularly since they've been brought up that way for life. again, it's not because they're gay (since they were long-time customers of her, she probably knew) but because they're taking away something her religion thinks of as sacred. a civil partnership probz wouldn't bother her.



and @Lewis; a quick google told me the bible said not to marry people of other races because they worship 'false gods', not because they were diff colours?

[FlyingJesus]

^ yarp the Bible only ever really mentions anything about "race" as Jewish or gentile, never anything about skin colour

[AgnesIO]

from what i know from actually talking to religious people and not just shouting GAY BASHERS at them is that many think being gay is FINE but that their religion dictates that marriage is between a man and a woman. that's not because they think "ew gays are gross" but that marriage is a sacred thing for them and that is how it has always been. so who do we offend, religious people or gay people? i know that times are changing and religion is becoming less important but you have to remember that people her age probably don't accept change that well particularly since they've been brought up that way for life. again, it's not because they're gay (since they were long-time customers of her, she probably knew) but because they're taking away something her religion thinks of as sacred. a civil partnership probz wouldn't bother her.



and @Lewis; a quick google told me the bible said not to marry people of other races because they worship 'false gods', not because they were diff colours?

Amen to this. People referring to race are being ridiculous. Marriage to many is between man and woman. That is a perfectly legitimate view in my opinion.

- - - Updated - - -

What a pathetic person, the same goes for those who are donating this undeserving money to her.

I'm curious what would have happened if she refused it to a black man and a white woman getting married, I'm pretty sure (although I could be wrong) that the bible also teaches that two different races should not be together.

The bible refers to the Jewish race, which is somewhat different to skin-related race.

[-:Undertaker:-]

You're ****** up in the head dude

There's no such right to have flowers sold to you.

i would've **** all over her shop floor then ripped all of her flowers up
idc if it's on a religious bias, it's 2015 she needs to get a grip

Isn't that being intolerant? Shouldn't you be celebrating the diversity of opinion?