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Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous grounds

Should B&B owners be allowed to refuse gay couples?

  • Yes, they should be allowed to refuse anyone for any reason

    Votes: 48 59.3%

  • The should be allowed to refuse if it violates their religious beliefs

    Votes: 2 2.5%

  • They should be fined for discriminating against gays

    Votes: 11 13.6%

  • They should lose their B&B license for discriminating against gays

    Votes: 14 17.3%

  • Other, please explain

    Votes: 6 7.4%
  • Total voters
    81
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

First point, I am not a big fan of bigotry. Hating people for things they have no say in such as genetics or sexuality is not cool, it's disgraceful, and you miss out on opportunities to interact with great people.

Second point, while I hate bigotry I hate government intrusion just a tad more. I vehemently oppose private property rights(including licensed businesses) being trampled in the name of political agendas.

Third point, the market can speak louder than the law ever can.....somehow we've forgotten that. I will not do business with bigots, and I make it known. If people would simply inform these owners in large numbers that their behavior is unacceptable for the purposes of doing business, tunes change pretty quickly.......or owners change. Either way, bigotry gets ended without getting some G-damned government official involved.

That's just my 2 cents.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Assuming the law in England prohibits discrimination against gays, then no, they should not be allowed to discriminate. If they don't like it, they don't have to run that business.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

LaMidRighter said:
First point, I am not a big fan of bigotry. Hating people for things they have no say in such as genetics or sexuality is not cool, it's disgraceful, and you miss out on opportunities to interact with great people.

Second point, while I hate bigotry I hate government intrusion just a tad more. I vehemently oppose private property rights(including licensed businesses) being trampled in the name of political agendas.

Third point, the market can speak louder than the law ever can.....somehow we've forgotten that. I will not do business with bigots, and I make it known. If people would simply inform these owners in large numbers that their behavior is unacceptable for the purposes of doing business, tunes change pretty quickly.......or owners change. Either way, bigotry gets ended without getting some G-damned government official involved.

That's just my 2 cents.
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Yeah, but it rarely works that way.

Blacks stayed away from restaurants that discriminated back in the 60s and those places said "Great, we didn't want you here anyway." It took laws to make changes.

Would you seriously have no problem if Wal Mart had a sign saying "no black people are allowed in" or Disney World said "no Christians"? As an employer could I also discriminate?

Bigotry will not end just because there are laws against it. But discrimination may.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Groucho said:
Yeah, but it rarely works that way.

Blacks stayed away from restaurants that discriminated back in the 60s and those places said "Great, we didn't want you here anyway." It took laws to make changes.
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I understand that point and wanted to see how it was going to be made. My opinion on it was that it was a different society back then, and those laws at the time were completely necessary. These days though society is much more tolerant of people's differences and the bigot label is the kiss of death socially and economically, therefore I think we are at the point where the market can take care of bigots quickly and efficiently.

Would you seriously have no problem if Wal Mart had a sign saying "no black people are allowed in" or Disney World said "no Christians"? As an employer could I also discriminate?
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I wouldn't do business with them, I would explain to management why, and others would probably do the same. Do I have a problem with it? Absolutely! Do I think it should be a legal issue? No.

Bigotry will not end just because there are laws against it. But discrimination may.
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Actually, bigots can find any loophole and tool to remain discriminatory, they would just have to go into hiding and chip away from a different angle. There is definitely a point to people who speak of soft discrimination and I'd rather just air things out and know where everybody stands.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Groucho said:
Yeah, but it rarely works that way.

Blacks stayed away from restaurants that discriminated back in the 60s and those places said "Great, we didn't want you here anyway." It took laws to make changes.

Would you seriously have no problem if Wal Mart had a sign saying "no black people are allowed in" or Disney World said "no Christians"? As an employer could I also discriminate?

Bigotry will not end just because there are laws against it. But discrimination may.
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Back in the 60's yes, now days it would be quite different. If a store tried that today they would not last long.

Then again the question of needing a license from the state or county comes into play.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Blackdog said:
Then again the question of needing a license from the state or county comes into play.
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Yes, that's the key.

If you want to set up a private club that discriminates, you have every right to do so.

However, if you set up a business that is open to the public, then you have to abide by the laws. You can't decide to serve everyone except gays or except Irish or except the handicapped or whatever.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

I voted 'other'. This is certainly a dilemma to me. On the one hand, they are offering a service to the public, on the other they are doing so out of their home, which to my mind is different than a hotel or motel.

At the very least, they should have the decency to stipulate ahead of time what their rules are. It was pretty tacky to turn the couple away at the last minute.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Ikari said:
Their business, their rules.
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So if they refused to allow blacks that would be ok with you?

Or if they said no inter-racial couples?

Why stop at just B&B's...is it ok if Safeway says "No blacks allowed"...their business their rules? Right?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
So if they refused to allow blacks that would be ok with you?

Or if they said no inter-racial couples?

Why stop at just B&B's...is it ok if Safeway says "No blacks allowed"...their business their rules? Right?
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You are correct. Private business is private business.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
So if they refused to allow blacks that would be ok with you?

Or if they said no inter-racial couples?

Why stop at just B&B's...is it ok if Safeway says "No blacks allowed"...their business their rules? Right?
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People have already addressed this, you may or may not like the answer, but read back.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Blackdog said:
It is private property and it does not fall into the "need" category like a super market or gas station. So they can refuse service for any reason.

Even though I agree they should be able to. If they have a business license from the state to operate, they may not be able to according to the license.
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So you would be ok with a movie theater saying blacks are only allowed to sit in the balcony?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Ikari said:
You are correct. Private business is private business.
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That's absurd and the reason why the civil rights laws came about.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
That's absurd and the reason why the civil rights laws came about.
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It's not absurd. If someone owns their business, they own their business. They can set the rules so long as you don't infringe upon the rights of others. Like it or not, you don't have the right to be served at a business.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Ikari said:
It's not absurd. If someone owns their business, they own their business. They can set the rules so long as you don't infringe upon the rights of others. Like it or not, you don't have the right to be served at a business.
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They are infringing on the rights of others. Sorry...but if you are going to do business in the US you aren't free to simply disregard anti-discrimination laws. If you don't like it, take your business to a country where discrimination is accepted.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
So you would be ok with a movie theater saying blacks are only allowed to sit in the balcony?
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They have a license from the state or county. Because of this they have to abide by that county or states laws concerning discrimination.

In this case it is a private home and no license is required. No I have no problem with it. It is their private property, they can bar whoever they wish.

If a white person wanted to come into my home to buy something and I said sorry no whites allowed. Nothing he can do about it. It is my property, I own.
 
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Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Blackdog said:
They have a license from the state or county. Because of this they have to abide by that county or states laws concerning discrimination.

In this case it is a private home and no license is required. No I have no problem with it. It is their private property, they can bar whoever they wish.
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Sorry...but you have to have a license to operate a bed and breakfast, its no different than a movie theater, which is the owner's "private property" as well.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
They are infringing on the rights of others. Sorry...but if you are going to do business in the US you aren't free to simply disregard anti-discrimination laws. If you don't like it, take your business to a country where discrimination is accepted.
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Which rights are being infringed upon? If you don't like how a company or business does its business or who they allow in; don't go to that business. Without consumers, the business fails or adjusts to reclaim lost patronage. Quit relying on the government to do everything for you.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
Sorry...but you have to have a license to operate a bed and breakfast, its no different than a movie theater, which is the owner's "private property" as well.
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Then you have your answer don't you? :roll:
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Blackdog said:
Then you have your answer don't you? :roll:
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I gave you the answer. It seems like it is you who cannot reconcile your arguments.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
Sorry...but you have to have a license to operate a bed and breakfast, its no different than a movie theater, which is the owner's "private property" as well.
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If the bed and breakfast plans on serving any sort of food, they have to have a license or the owner will risk fines and/or jail.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
I gave you the answer. It seems like it is you who cannot reconcile your arguments.
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Oh I am sorry I guess you missed this...

"They have a license from the state or county. Because of this they have to abide by that county or states laws concerning discrimination."
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Ikari said:
Which rights are being infringed upon? If you don't like how a company or business does its business or who they allow in; don't go to that business. Without consumers, the business fails or adjusts to reclaim lost patronage. Quit relying on the government to do everything for you.
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The right to be free a discrimination. The civil rights laws were enacted to prohibit businesses from engaging in this type of discrimination. Its part of doing business in this country. Why do you expect businesses to be able to operate freely without adhering to the rules that our society sets?
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

megaprogman said:
If the bed and breakfast plans on serving any sort of food, they have to have a license or the owner will risk fines and/or jail.
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Not necessarily. That would depend on a locale and all relevant laws regarding them, there may be homestead exemptions in certain areas.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

Blackdog said:
Oh I am sorry I guess you missed this...

"They have a license from the state or county. Because of this they have to abide by that county or states laws concerning discrimination."
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Of course....if a private citizen doesn't want to allow someone in their house, that's their right. But if they are going to operate a business, they have to comply with the laws of our society which prohibit discrimination.

Thats what makes this country so great.
 
Re: Should a Bed and Breakfast Owner be allowed to refuse Gay couples on religous gro

disneydude said:
Of course....if a private citizen doesn't want to allow someone in their house, that's their right. But if they are going to operate a business, they have to comply with the laws of our society which prohibit discrimination.
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Thats what I said ^$*@(&$^)(@!
 
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