Arizona's new anti-gay law.

[Elok]

Failing that, the easy way out is a sign for dissenters that says, "In keeping with my legal obligations, I will serve [group I find objectionable]. I will then donate all profits from their business to [group that agitates against group I find objectionable]. Have a nice day."

[Imran Siddiqui]

How about a general rule that says: if providing a vital, non-replaceable service, you can't deny it. If providing a luxury, fine.

Yeah, have fun with that and the subsequently endless pedantry on vital and non-vital.

There is a reason that accommodation law on race applies to everything. Including baking cakes. (Oregon's law prohibiting discrimination against sexual orientation basically expanded the prohibiting of discrimination already afforded to race, etc) You realize that law on discrimination has never differentiated between vital and non-vital services? The only exemptions are in hiring if the status is absolutely necessary to the job, or in some gender issues (even those are very minimal).

[Felch]

It's not hard to define vital. Plenty of tax codes already distinguish between them. It's why states charge different tax rates on alcohol and tobacco than they do on other goods, and why groceries are often untaxed, or taxed at a lower rate than prepared meals. Pretending like this is beyond the ken of mere mortals is ****ing ridiculous.

There should be no discrimination in providing essential services. But nobody should ever be forced to do something they don't want to do unless it's for a very good reason. If some bigot doesn't want to photograph a gay wedding, that's his business, and nobody should be able to force him to work when he doesn't want to.

[MrFun]

What's the definition of insanity?

Trying the same thing over and over again, even if it fails.

[Felch]

It comes down to this: If the First Amendment protects anything, it protects the things we (the public) find distasteful. It's a shield against majoritarianism, and it's an essential part of our national identity.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You know, no one seriously tries to argue that bakers shouldn't be able to serve black people (or women, or Catholics) if they don't want to

And these bakers are free to voice their opposition, but when they want to be a public business they have to play by the rules.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Plenty of tax codes already distinguish between them. It's why states charge different tax rates on alcohol and tobacco than they do on other goods, and why groceries are often untaxed, or taxed at a lower rate than prepared meals.

You do realize that deciding what is a carve out of sales taxes rates is a far, far, fat less contentious issue than what is considered vital reason to discriminate against a class of people? Hence the pendantic decision making - Pharmacies? Catholics a few years back tried to assert that practicing Catholics shouldn't have to dispense birth control. Most others thought it was a vital service and the pharmacist has to deal with it. It'd be an utter nightmare for anything beyond police/fire/hospital.

[Felch]

You know, no one seriously tries to argue that bakers shouldn't be able to serve black people (or women, or Catholics) if they don't want to

And these bakers are free to voice their opposition, but when they want to be a public business they have to play by the rules.

If a baker doesn't want to serve me because I'm Catholic, I'd be 100% cool with that. If Hooters won't hire me because I don't have (nice) tits, I'm 100% cool with that. If some barber doesn't want to cut the hair of any honkies, I'm 100% cool with that. If I go to a head shop and there's a sign and it says, "Our crop just cured and we're getting baked all day, come back tomorrow," I'm 100% cool with that.

You see, I have a healthy attitude about my place in the world. I realize that the world doesn't revolve around me, and that other people do what they do for their own reasons. Insisting on things being otherwise is ****ing childish.

[Felch]

For the record, I'd say medical care falls under vital services. I also don't think you should need a prescription to get most of today's prescription drugs.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If a baker doesn't want to serve me because I'm Catholic, I'd be 100% cool with that. If Hooters won't hire me because I don't have (nice) tits, I'm 100% cool with that. If some barber doesn't want to cut the hair of any honkies, I'm 100% cool with that. If I go to a head shop and there's a sign and it says, "Our crop just cured and we're getting baked all day, come back tomorrow," I'm 100% cool with that.

And then the Hooters also says we won't serve you because you are Catholic. Or the barber says you can get a hair cut, but in the back of the shop.

So was the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s about the black folk thinking the world revolves around them?

And don't even pretend that if a baker didn't want to serve someone because they were Catholic, you wouldn't have protests there (and lawsuits, because its illegal to deny service based on your religion).

It's also easy to say you'd be ok with the denial of service when you are a white straight Catholic male and the vast majority of people won't deny your service.

[Guynemer]

I also don't think you should need a prescription to get most of today's prescription drugs.

Of course you don't.

[DaShi]

If a baker doesn't want to serve me because I'm Catholic, I'd be 100% cool with that. If Hooters won't hire me because I don't have (nice) tits, I'm 100% cool with that. If some barber doesn't want to cut the hair of any honkies, I'm 100% cool with that. If I go to a head shop and there's a sign and it says, "Our crop just cured and we're getting baked all day, come back tomorrow," I'm 100% cool with that.

You see, I have a healthy attitude about my place in the world. I realize that the world doesn't revolve around me, and that other people do what they do for their own reasons. Insisting on things being otherwise is ****ing childish.

What if all bakers/barbers/Hooters in your city don't want to serve you because you are Catholic? How about 9 out of 10? How about you have to go to the next state to get these and other services? Where's the line?

[Guynemer]

It's childish to care about that sort of thing, DaShi, weren't you reading?

[DaShi]

No, I wasn't. Um...can I schedule an appointment, I'd like you to take a look at this rash? And don't deny me because I'm an adult or I'll sue!

[Guynemer]

Well, since you are acting like a child, I guess I have to see you.