#CakeGate: can you refuse service on the basis of faith?

The cake that Colorado baker Jack Phillips refused to bake was the kindling that lit a nation-wide discussion in the USA. Can a business deny service to an individual on the basis of their sexual orientation? As the Supreme Court came to a verdict in favour of the baker, the narrowness of the ruling still left the question unanswered. The baker was quickly followed by others who stood up in solidarity of his beliefs such as the Richland florist and the Kentucky county clerk. The resultant discussion has pitted religious freedom against the civil liberties of same-sex couples and LGBT individuals.

Yes, service can be refused on grounds of religion in all cases

Forcing an individual to provide a service against their will and religious beliefs is wrong

Religious freedom is uniquely important

Why would we make somebody provide a service they deem immoral and wrong?

Baking a cake is a form of protected creative expression

The US's first amendment protects individual free speech

Service can be refused on religious grounds, but not in all cases

The interests of the different groups involved ought to balanced differently on a case by case basis

Service can be refused when there is an alternative

If an individual feels they cannot render a service, there must be an alternative

Service can be refused on religious grounds, but not in all cases

In terms of personal beliefs, there are certain things that should be lenient. Diet is one of the things any person can practice on their own terms without interfering with other’s who don’t hold the same values. However, mixing beliefs with business is not idea in a society with values that continue to change.

No, service cannot be refused on religious grounds

There is no case in which discrimination based on sexuality is acceptable

Would you refuse service to a mixed-race couple?

Why is it that sometimes we are willing to tolerate discrimination but in others find it unpalatable

The law is the highest authority

In a secular society with non-discrimination laws, all citizens must abide by those laws

Exercise of religious freedom must not hurt others

Respecting the rights of the religious is important, but only insofar as those rights don't involve 3rd party harm.

Some kinds of service can be refused on grounds of religion but not all

Certain acts violate one's freedom of conscience so one shouldn't be forced to perform them, however, one shouldn't be able to refuse service to someone on basis of their innate characteristics.

Service should not be denied because of someone’s view on identity

The idea of what identity is has changed considerably over the last couple of decades. Gender and sexuality have become more diverse than it was in the early 21st century. Unfortunately, many religions don’t approve of these changes because they don’t acknowledge them as identity.
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This page was last edited on Thursday, 14 May 2020 at 09:28 UTC