Settlement In “No Gay Reception” Case: Public Businesses Do Not Have a License to Discriminate

ACLU Blog of Rights | Aug 24 2012 | Joshua Block

[B Knotts]

A “Human Rights Commission” is something that does not belong in America; ideas like that should have died with the Soviet Union.

[scottjewell]

That sounds like a good strategy - - unless of course the gays decide to bring an anti-discrimination suit which will enforce mandatory diversity training such as the one launched in Illinois by TCRA against Chick-Fil-A.

[gusopol3]

Actually an even better approach by the owners would be to allow all comers to have their receptions, but to inform that all proceeds of homosexual events will be donated to Family Research Council.

[Terry Mross]

Two gay guys should try to hold a reception as a muslim owned property. I’d bet the government would say nothing if the couple were denied.

[aumrl]

LOL yes, the ONLY state in the country without a theater showing ‘2016 the movie’ !

[scottjewell]

Just noticed link was not appearing :

http://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights-religion-belief/settlement-no-gay-reception-case-shows-public-businesses-do-not

[GreatRoad]

I’ve been turned away from drinking establishments because I wasn’t wearing a collar. This is insane.

[scottjewell]

Indeed the HRC took its origin-idea from the former Soviet Union.

[GenXteacher]

The civil rights movement has actually stripped away the important freedoms of association and assembly. People should have the ability to associate and do business with whomever they wish, and if that means “No Gays” or “Black Only” so be it.

[Travis McGee]

Welcome to the USSA, comrades. You will obey the PC commissars, or else!

[freeandfreezing]

Sadly, this is an example of homosexual activism directed against religious people, and the folly of homosexual activists. The owners of the Wildflower Inn have created an inn that is specifically oriented towards families with young children. Unlike many, perhaps most inns in Vermont which either ban or frown upon young children, the Wildflower Inn goes out of their way to cater to them. For instance, at the Wildflower Inn they have special activities for children, and many situations where you can leave your children supervised by a Wildflower Inn employee while you enjoy a drink or a meal. In addition, the religious convictions of the owners are no secret, and are something they freely share with guests.

Instead of simply choosing one of the inns oriented towards adults, the complaining lesbians chose an inn whose owners and atmosphere are inconsistent with their plans. Apparently they never considered, for example, that other inns turn away families with children, or that inns exist which would not welcome a religious group, or a group of bikers, or other groups that would be inconsistent with how the inn wanted to maintain its atmosphere.

A group of religious people with their children should call up one of the "gay friendly" inns in Vermont and try to book the entire inn for a weekend retreat. I'd like to see if the ACLU, etc. wants to take up that lawsuit.

I've never seen the government of Vermont enforce anti-discrimination laws against inns where the discrimination is against families or children. Somehow I doubt they are about to start.

As others have noted inn owners should be able to choose which customers to do business with, particularly when it comes to groups, since the atmosphere of the inn, which is what the innkeeper is really selling, depends on the mix of visitors present.

[jimfree]

If businesses have no license to discriminate then government has even less.

[cripplecreek]

Instead of simply choosing one of the inns oriented towards adults, the complaining lesbians chose an inn whose owners and atmosphere are inconsistent with their plans. Apparently they never considered, for example, that other inns turn away families with children, or that inns exist which would not welcome a religious group, or a group of bikers, or other groups that would be inconsistent with how the inn wanted to maintain its atmosphere.

I have a militant lesbian cousin who goes out of her way to apply for jobs she doesn't really want at places she knows won't hire her like religious institutions (who insist that she sign a contract upholding Christian ideals which she won't do). Just recently she and her "partner" applied for a loan as a married couple and the bank pointed out that the state of Minnesota doesn't recognize same sex marriage but would give them the loan under a domestic partnership designation. My cousin and her partner refused to accept it and ae now screaming that the bank discriminated against them and refused to give them a loan.

[scottjewell]

Very well said - this information makes the case seem all the more unjust. I wouldn’t doubt that the inn was targeted by the lesbians with a lawsuit in mind, and to make an example of them. Really a disgrace.

[freeandfreezing]

Actually this is almost certainly a case where the activists specifically chose the inn because of the views of its owners. The Wildflower Inn's website features a link to their neighbor's chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Family, which is owned by a devout Catholic family. That family is also ensnared in litigation by people claiming the cross on their property is too large. This is just about anti religious activists attacking religious people.

I urge Freepers looking to vacation in Vermont to consider the Wildflower Inn, its a great place, and its owners could use our support.

And visit the chapel if you want to!

[usconservative]

This is scary. When Private Business Entities are declared "Public Enterprises" it removes all PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP rights of all Business owned property.

Next step: no more PRIVATE PROPERTY at all.

Welcome to Obama's AmeriKa.

[scottjewell]

Yes indeed - a frightening slippery slope.

[Antoninus]

Of course, there’s another way to skin a cat; the owners could give an interview to a Baptist Sunday school paper declaring that they will continue to contribute to supposedly anti-gay marriage (actually pro-family) charities, then the homosexuals will boycott them.

That's exactly how they should handle it. Be publicly pro-marriage and say to the world that you're giving money to pro-marriage groups, patronizing Chick-fil-a, etc. Let the homos know that if they come there, a large chunk of the money they spend will be donated directly to those they consider their enemies.

If you're sick and tired of this cr@p, please consider supporting the National Organization for Marriage. They are on the front line of this issue and need all the help they can get. Not surprisingly, they are under siege from the pro-sodomy crowd. One way to start helping immediately is to "like" them on Facebook and comment on their posts:

National Organization for Marriage

[cripplecreek]

I believe it was Aloise Hitler that used his half brother’s connections to force his Jewish landlord to allow Aloise to expand his business to take over the entire building.

The landlord ended up fleeing the country.

[scottjewell]

Notice what one of the lesbians’ mother said about her encounter with the Wildflower Inn, and how she does not see the irony of still pressing a suit and making an example of them, even though it was easy as pie to find another inn:

“Fortunately, I soon found a perfectly beautiful venue for their reception, a place that welcomes my daughter and her fiancée. And fortunately, I also learned that the Wildflower Inn is in the distinct minority in its discriminatory policy. But that doesn’t excuse the Wildflower Inn’s discrimination or make their conduct any less hurtful and humiliating. I hope that by filing their lawsuit Ming and Kate will be able to make sure that other couples will be treated equally by public businesses regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.”

http://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights/my-daughter-isnt-good-enough-think-again-wildflower-inn