For the person in the article who asked if it's really wrong to refuse to hold a wedding for people whose values you don't agree with - being gay is not a value any more than being black or being female are values. Go ahead and refuse to deal with white supremacists (the example they gave) - they made a choice to believe in hate. Refusing based on a quality someone did not choose is an asshole move. Making a choice based on someone's opinions or beliefs is as valid as their right to choose to believe in things. The owner of the venue has chosen to be homophobic and now people are choosing to boycott their business. Both are protected as forms of freedom of expression. Choices have consequences even when they are legally protected choices. You cannot be arrested for choosing to be a bigot, but you can go bankrupt when no one else wants to associate with you because of it.

Why does their first email say they only offer same sex ceremonies, and then it was changed?

Using religion as a reason to be hateful to people is such a pathetic excuse.

The behaviour of such companies has nothing to do with religious sensitivities but with pure bigotry. I bet many cheats, thugs, swindlers and other people with completely non-Christian intentions have been married here. The "advantage" is that you don't see all this on the outside. Basically, I would only want to get married where I really felt welcome and in good hands. You don't want me? No worries, I'll take my money somewhere else.

The only surprising part of this article is that 'we offer same sex marriages only' being changed to 'we do not offer same sex marriages' is glossed over.

I might take an unpopular opinion here but...the owner of the barn was neither rude, nor hateful nor bigoted about it. They simply didn't want to give them business. I mean they are well within their rights to refuse. It's a private business. Heck they could have refused them business cuz they could say y'all too ugly for my barn, and that's effectively the same thing. If not the business they were dealing with was governmental or along those lines, that's a different affair. It sucks but what are you gonna do, hang the religious folks?

In my country it's illegal to deny anything to anyone because of their orientation or whatsoever. Everyones rights are protected under the anti discrimination law. Someone's sexuality is none of your business. I never heard of such a behavior in my country. It's so strange. Your religion is for you and you should never push it on others. Bigots. That's what you are. You are wrong and no one supports your behavior. The couple is clearly better off without this venue.

Kiss Army

Kiss Army

Community Member • points

posts

comments

upvotes

FollowUnfollow

Premium

Premium user. Get details.

adam_2-614...32c2dd.jpg

So how exactly did this backfire for the couple??

Straight white male here. I am baffled why anyone allows themselves to be affected by another person's choices. If you're not gay, great. Date/sleep with/marry the opposite gender. If you are gay, great. Date/sleep with/marry the same gender. Who actually gets traumatized by homosexuals? Like "OH MY GOD, somewhere in the world a man is kissing another man! I CAN FEEL IT AND IT'S CAUSING ME ANXIETY!" Grow up. And for businesses to do that is just STUPID. Rainbow bucks spend just as well as any other. Never heard anyone say "Well, here's a tenner in regular money, but if you go to a gay bar, it's only worth $6.50."

The only way I can think refusal based on orientation would be justified would be is the venue actually performs the wedding, and they have a sincerely held belief that marriage is a sacred rite and participating in a blasphemous rite is against their beliefs. If they are just putting out chairs and renting a space, there is no justifiable reason I can see.

Sending some Jehovah's witnesses to the manager...

The woman with white supremacists example is wrong. Being gay is not harming anyone

I am a Christian. Like a Bible believing Christian. And I'm I'm not a liberal Christian, Im definitely more conservative. And I can tell you unequivocally that I don't hate gay people. Even before one of my all time favorite people came out to me. And our friendship stands. I don't believe it's a choice to have attraction to your own sex. I think it's a hard row to hoe. I do believe that acting on it is wrong. But I also believe that any premarital sex is wrong. I also think gossip is wrong, being drunk is wrong, being prideful is wrong, being greedy is wrong. Ask me which sins I'm guilty of. There's a lot. I don't judge you or hate you, because I am you. Maybe different sins but guilty nonetheless. That's why I am thankful to have a forgiving Savior in Jesus Christ. I wouldn't say "seek Jesus" because I hate you. I would say it because I love you.

The private venue has the right to reject any event that is not fit for their image. Not every is into celebrating gay unions

Commenter Brad Mori made a good suggestion. I haven’t planned my wedding yet but one of the first things I will ask any venues is if they host same-sex marriages, just so we can avoid the ones that do not. Being in California… it probably wouldn’t be an issue. But we can rest easy knowing the venue we chose does not discriminate. Love is love.

This is a great article but the headline needs to be changed to clarify it was the venues business decision that backfired, not the reporting of this by the wedding couple.

I dare anyone to go to a Halal butcher and demand pork. I mean, I double dare you. Go ahead, demand a special order for your gay wedding.

yuck

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

So what happens if they find out the owner is Muslim?

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Just go somewhere else where they are happy to accomodate you and get on with your life. If you force the issue it is guaranteed to come back and bite you.