Colorado Supreme Court won't hear Lakewood baker discrimination case

To all the people here saying it is your right to deny service to LBGT community because your bible says so. You're being hypocrites. You hide behind your bible when it is beneficial to you. You won't deny service to divorced people, you won't deny service to men who shave their beard (levictus 21:5)

So people, please stop hiding behind your bible and say it out loud. Its not because of the bible that you don't accept lbgt, it's because they freak you personally out. Things that are different freak you out.

I posted earlier about Muslim bakers refusing to bake cakes for gay weddings, why do they get a pass? Because the media are pushing s story line against Christians. http://louderwithcrowder.com/hidden-camera-gay-wedding-cake-at-muslim-bakery/

I decided to do a better job of educating myself to offer some type of reasoned response to what is, at its heart, a highly emotional issue. I looked up the basic tenants of a 'business license' and found there are over 40,000 separate licensing jurisdictions in the United States, and each has its own particular licensing requirements. I needed to narrow that down a bit and focused on exactly what is the purpose of a business license? The following holds true pretty much across this large field of business endeavor:

1) To identify your business and make sure you are accountable for your actions
2) To protect the public health and safety
3) To keep track of your finances for tax purposes

The next definition pretty much puts an end to argument for specific discrimination:

"For 150 years, states have had public accommodation laws requiring businesses that choose to offer goods and services in the commercial marketplace to serve customers equally. Once a business decides to advertise its services to the public at large, it gives up the prerogative to pick and choose which customers to serve – even when that commercial service involves some form of speech or expression."

That pretty much sums up the totality of any question about the subject, and is the cornerstone of arguments before the courts even as we here at RP speak. So - keep a sharp eye on current events to see where this goes in the legal arena.

As to my own experience and personal opinion: The Constitution and Bill of Rights provides a right of association, generally interpreted to mean I may associate with whom I will. An act of free association does not tie to 'discrimination;' nor does it speak to bigotry or make me a bad person. In my private life, I have my own circle of friends and associates composed of individuals of all walks of life and gender association (including alternative life styles). It's important to point out one very significant fact: NOT ONE OF THEM FORCES THEIR PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW ONTO ANY OTHER. We are all of us tolerant and acceptable of each other's life choices.

And that, I believe, is the crux of this entire issue of gender and orientation...if a business does not wish to service certain aspects of the public - it may give up its license and close its doors. That is its only course of action. If I do not wish to associate with someone for any particular reason, I am not compelled to do so - that is my course of action.

Too many groups out there, who already enjoy the full protection of every law and benefit available to citizens of the United States, disregard common respect, tolerance or acceptance in an attempt to draw attention to their particular issue in whatever form that may be. This runs full against the fundamental aspect of free association, causes unnecessary friction, unrest, and outright civil disobedience - seen almost daily throughout the media (in that it's seen as an attempt to force a point of view onto someone else who chooses to believe otherwise).

They will not prevail by continuing such actions. One can ignore their antics by simply turning off the media device. One may pick and choose whom they associate with without fear of confrontation. Laws exist prohibiting behavior tied to harassment based on verbiage, religion or lifestyle orientation in many aspects of our society - both in the public and workplace.

None of this would have ever been necessary if people simply learn how to get along with others by practicing tolerance and acceptance, civility and courtesy...aspects that were commonplace in my time but seem to have lost all meaning in the world we live in today.