Obama And Gay Marriages

[Punish_her]

Very true. And it has been shown time and again that it is illegal to discriminate. It is also illegal to use religious convictions to force laws into effect that will affect even those who do not subscribe to that religion. Which is what the controversy is all about!

the goverment can't at least. i think a business should be allowed to be as discriminatory as it wants

[Thorne]

the goverment can't at least. i think a business should be allowed to be as discriminatory as it wants

Except that it can't. That issue was settled more than 40 years ago. ANY public business must abide by federal anti-discrimination laws. That's why restaurants, or clothing stores, or bars, or any other business which deals with the general public, cannot refuse to serve someone based upon race, color or creed. And it's my opinion, an the opinion of an ever-increasing percentage of the US population, that sexual orientation should be included in that ruling. There is no valid, legal reason for denying gays equal rights. The ONLY reasons are religious, which cannot be used to justify law.

[Punish_her]

Except that it can't. That issue was settled more than 40 years ago. ANY public business must abide by federal anti-discrimination laws. That's why restaurants, or clothing stores, or bars, or any other business which deals with the general public, cannot refuse to serve someone based upon race, color or creed. And it's my opinion, an the opinion of an ever-increasing percentage of the US population, that sexual orientation should be included in that ruling. There is no valid, legal reason for denying gays equal rights. The ONLY reasons are religious, which cannot be used to justify law.

if its my property, i should be able to do what i want with it. if i want to have a resteraunt that only employs and caters to whites, seeing as how its my property, that should be legal

[Thorne]

if its my property, i should be able to do what i want with it. if i want to have a resteraunt that only employs and caters to whites, seeing as how its my property, that should be legal

Except that, even if it's your property, you cannot run a business without acquiring a permit from the city/county/state. To obtain that permit, and keep it, you must abide by all applicable laws, at least one of which requires you to be non-discriminatory. Certainly there are valid reasons for keeping a particular person out of your store, but keeping an entire class of people out is illegal, and will cost you your ability to do business.

[StrictMasterD]

Except that, even if it's your property, you cannot run a business without acquiring a permit from the city/county/state. To obtain that permit, and keep it, you must abide by all applicable laws, at least one of which requires you to be non-discriminatory. Certainly there are valid reasons for keeping a particular person out of your store, but keeping an entire class of people out is illegal, and will cost you your ability to do business.

Thorne,
I have a question, you are right with what you havesaid, but what happens in siutations and I have seen them when you go by or into a resturant and there is a sign up that says "We reservethe right to refuse to serve anyone"
I have seen those ans thoe arelegal, wil probably kll the business but they are legal to you you can refuse serve to anyone you want
As am atter of fact without getting of track to much there was recently a resutrant inthe news who have asign up that say they wil not serve anyone who speaks Spanish, or only English spoken here?

[Thorne]

Thorne,
I have a question, you are right with what you havesaid, but what happens in siutations and I have seen them when you go by or into a resturant and there is a sign up that says "We reservethe right to refuse to serve anyone"
I have seen those ans thoe arelegal, wil probably kll the business but they are legal to you you can refuse serve to anyone you want

You can try that, of course. If someone is abusive to the workers, or creating a disturbance, there's no problem. But if you refuse service because someone is black, or Hispanic, or oriental, or Muslim, you run the risk of losing your license should they complain.

As am atter of fact without getting of track to much there was recently a resutrant inthe news who have asign up that say they wil not serve anyone who speaks Spanish, or only English spoken here?

You cannot refuse to serve someone just because they speak Spanish. That is discrimination. You CAN, however, notify your customers that you have no one in your employ who understands Spanish. That is information which might be important to a customer. Assuming they can read English! (Might be smarter to put up the sign in Spanish. And you can add French, Russian, Greek, Urdu, Bantu, etc, etc, etc.)

But think about it for a bit. You run a business, lets say a small restaurant. You are located in an area where a significant percentage of the locals are Hispanic. Wouldn't it make good business sense to have menus printed in Spanish, and to hire at least some Spanish speaking staff? To my mind, it would take a particularly masochistic, and foolish, business man to turn away a large amount of business just because he doesn't like to hear Spanish.

[StrictMasterD]

You can try that, of course. If someone is abusive to the workers, or creating a disturbance, there's no problem. But if you refuse service because someone is black, or Hispanic, or oriental, or Muslim, you run the risk of losing your license should they complain.


You cannot refuse to serve someone just because they speak Spanish. That is discrimination. You CAN, however, notify your customers that you have no one in your employ who understands Spanish. That is information which might be important to a customer. Assuming they can read English! (Might be smarter to put up the sign in Spanish. And you can add French, Russian, Greek, Urdu, Bantu, etc, etc, etc.)

But think about it for a bit. You run a business, lets say a small restaurant. You are located in an area where a significant percentage of the locals are Hispanic. Wouldn't it make good business sense to have menus printed in Spanish, and to hire at least some Spanish speaking staff? To my mind, it would take a particularly masochistic, and foolish, business man to turn away a large amount of business just because he doesn't like to hear Spanish.

Thorne,
Again I agree with you, my question is how does that Resturant get away with putting that sign up NOBDY had told him he has to take it down, I am sure it effect his busienss but how does he legally get away even using that sign?

[Punish_her]

Except that, even if it's your property, you cannot run a business without acquiring a permit from the city/county/state. To obtain that permit, and keep it, you must abide by all applicable laws, at least one of which requires you to be non-discriminatory. Certainly there are valid reasons for keeping a particular person out of your store, but keeping an entire class of people out is illegal, and will cost you your ability to do business.

well obviously that's the law but the law itself is unconstitutional

[Thorne]

well obviously that's the law but the law itself is unconstitutional

Not according to the Supreme Court. Their the ones who, you know, decide what is or isn't constitutional?