When you do that Bigoted Thing People are going to React
The business is already feeling the backlash from the local citizens.
Bridal Backlash: Fundamentalist Shop Owners Refuse to Serve Same-Sex Couple
Anti-gay discrimination masquerading as “religious freedom” is back in the news after the owners of a Bloomsburg, Pa., bridal shop turned a lesbian couple away. Think Progress reports that the owners cited their Christian beliefs as the motivation for the decision.
“We feel we have to answer to God for what we do, and providing those two girls dresses for a sanctified marriage would break God’s law,” said Victoria Miller, who co-owns W.W. Bridal.
Although the couple hasn’t indicated if they’ll pursue legal action, Miller has already retained counsel. And it should surprise nobody that she’s raising a “religious liberty” defense.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Pennsylvania, but since the town of Bloomsburg (and the state, too, for that matter) doesn’t have a non-discrimination ordinance in place when it comes to sexual orientation, Miller didn’t violate any laws by turning the couple away—for now. The public, however, reacted harshly to the shop’s decision to discriminate; critics have flooded W.W. Bridal’s Facebook page with complaints and threats of a boycott. And, inspired by the backlash, the town is now considering legislation that would ban anti-gay discrimination.
Given that Miller’s counsel is already publicly defending her religious liberty “right” to discriminate, it’s reasonable to think that this issue will head to court if Bloomsburg does pass an anti-discrimination ordinance. If it does, she’ll join the ranks of photographers and cake-makers around the country who believe that the First Amendment is actually a license to take away the dignity of others.
More: Bridal Backlash: Fundamentalist Shop Owners Refuse to Serve Same-Sex Couple