Can Evangelicals Refuse to Serve LGBTQ+?
Freedom of Religion vs. Non-Discrimination
Sometimes we have the legal authority to refuse to serve someone. But should we refuse?
Several Supreme Court rulings impact the answer to the above questions.
1. Separate but Equal
In the hallmark decision of Plessy v Ferguson, it was decided that racial segregation was legal as long as there were separate but equal opportunities for racial minorities (i.e., non-White). Thus, Whites could refuse to serve racial minorities in restaurants, on buses, buying or renting homes, job employment, and virtually every other privilege that Whites deemed appropriate. Shoot, racial minorities (e.g., Blacks) were refused permission to drink at the same water fountain or use the same bathroom as Whites. Fortunately, the later Brown v Board of Education ruled against this discrimination.
2. Evangelical Cake Decorator
The Supreme Court declared that a Christian baker could refuse to make a cake for gay marriage because of the baker’s religious objection. Thus, one’s freedom of religion permitted selective servicing of client requests. The gay couple would need to find other bakers that were willing to design cakes for gay weddings (shades of “separate but equal”).
3. Evangelical Graphic Artist
The Supreme Court decided that an Evangelical graphic artist who wanted to design a wedding website could refuse to work with an LGBTQ+ individual’s request for a gay wedding website. Thus, one’s freedom of speech grants a person the right to refuse service contrary to one’s beliefs. The LGBTQ+ individuals would need to find other design artists that service gay marriage websites (shades of “separate but equal”).
Churches
Conservative Churches (e.g., Evangelical Protestants, Catholics, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) can refuse to allow gay weddings in their local churches. Gay marriages are legal in America, and gay couples may want to marry in church. Accordingly, the gay couple must find a local church willing to perform gay marriages (shades of “separate but equal”).
Can LGBTQ+ Establishments Refuse to Serve Evangelicals?
Would it follow, therefore, that LGBTQ+ individuals can refuse to serve Evangelicals? What if an Evangelical wanted to hire a gay baker to make a cake that represented a heterosexual marriage? Can the gay baker refuse, for reasons that the gay baker’s religion was opposed to Evangelicalism?
Can a transgender graphic designer refuse to design websites for cisgender couples? In such a situation, does the trans designer’s freedom of speech (i.e., acceptance of transgender people) permit refusing service to Evangelicals (who often oppose transgender equality)?
Now, I am not a lawyer or legal specialist. But my common sense tells me that America is worse off whenever someone refuses to serve someone else.
But wait a minute, Mike. As a gay Christian, do I want to provide professional services to a Satanic club? As a man who is married to a Black husband, do I want to provide professional services to a White Supremacist?
Yep, it gets tricky.
Where is America Headed?
Does America really want to be a nation where every tribe has the right to refuse to serve any other tribe? Is “separate but equal” a way of life that Americans want to return? Is social justice a value that all Americans can get behind?
Do we truly want two political parties that will not attempt to “walk in the other’s shoes?” Must we ban books that are contrary to our worldview? For every celebration, do we really want to have opposers who try to shut down the celebration?
What Would Jesus Do?
As a gay Christian, I want to know a generic rule to follow — one that represents Jesus’ ethos.
So would Jesus refuse to serve those who were not His followers?
· Jesus rendered to Caesar the taxes that were due to Caesar.
· Jesus instructed His followers to love their enemies.
· Jesus considered every human life to be equal in value and deserved dignity.
· Jesus preferred to hang out with the “sinners.”
· Jesus obeyed the kangaroo court decision the “Supreme Court” imposed upon Him.
· Jesus submitted to the governor’s decision to have Him executed.
I just found my generic rule to follow.
Dr. Mike Rosebush (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology; he, him, his;) is the creator and editor of GAYoda, plus a writer for Backyard Church. A short synopsis of Dr. Rosebush’s life can be found at I Lived the Most Unusual Gay Christian Life Ever. He may be contacted at mikerosebush75@gmail.com.
