Recently, a pro-life christian group was booted from a Seattle coffee shop, for putting up an anti-abortion poster, then attempting to receive service. While this is not the full story, this also brings to mind the time when it went the opposite way. In 2012, a Colorado baker refused service to a gay couple, due to his beliefs. The Department of Justice has sided with the baker in that case, and due to precedent, the shop owner in this much more recent case will most likely win out as well.

While I don’t disagree with the owner of the Bedlam Cafe, in that the poster was obscene and probably should have been taken down; I don’t agree with the treatment of the group, or the refusal of service.  Refusal of service shouldn’t be a thing, in any case. As a vendor, you should have to provide service to everyone, no matter their race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation.  After all, if we follow Heart of Atlanta Motel, inc. v. United States, we should know that refusal of service based on race is illegal. So in that case, why shouldn’t refusal of service just be illegal in general, or at least have a set of guidelines to follow?

The laws of the land state that one cannot discriminate based on race, sex, or religion; and yet sexual orientation is still unprotected. Discrimination is rampant in the United States, with numerous high visibility cases each year. The idea that someone would refuse service based on personal beliefs, race, or preferences is absurd. It should be said, however, in some cases, refusal is okay. Refusal of service should be saved for those who cause a severe disruption in day to day activities, seem to be threatening to patrons and/or staff, or have attempted something illegal in your premises. These are people who do not need your services, or they would learn to behave themselves. However, a homosexual couple, or for that matter a pious person, do not deserve a denial of service just because they are who they are, or do a certain thing you don’t like.

Soon enough, the aforementioned incident with the baker and the gay couple will go up before the United States Supreme Court.  It is projected to be held sometime this year, but while we wait, people still suffer from the numerous prejudices that permeate our society. Fixing the refusal of service ideology would be a large step in the right direction.