If same-sex marriage is legalized, should people be forced to provide services for...

M

MSB

New member
...same-sex weddings...? if it is against their own spiritual/moral/personal beliefs?

When they become legal, do you think people who work in the wedding industry should be allowed to turn down same sex weddings if it is against their own faith/conscience?

I'm not referring to religious institutions or clergy-- I don't think they should have to perform any marriages that go against their doctrine.

I'm talking about wedding halls, caterers, wedding coordinators, musicians, bartenders, florists, photographers, etc.

Do you think if a same-sex couple decides they want a certain great photographer or great wedding planner, but that person says they don't want to work a same-sex wedding, that they should have the rights to turn the job down?

Or do you think it would be grounds to sue them for discrimination?

Would a person in this case have a right to follow their own religious beliefs and conscience, or would it be right to expect them to choose between their career and their beliefs?
Please read the question people-- I clearly said I wasn't talking about churches.


Wedding planners, photographers, wedding hall owners, etc...
 
From a legal standpoint at least at first, anyone who is working on a private religious ceremony for a wedding would be free to discriminate between their clients...they most likely would be protected by the free exercise clause of the 1st Amendment.

However, anyone who had anything to do with the State's issuing of marriage licenses (court officials, ect) would probably have to comply since the State wouldn't be able to discriminate.

edit : I looked it up: In order for the State to overrule someone's private free exercise of religion they would have to have a "compelling government interest"....The Supreme Court would probably end up having to decide whether prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation is a compelling state interest.
 
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