Bull. That one bakery had to go out of business from fines and legal expenses.
No, that bakery went out of business because people stopped patronizing them when it was found out that the husband was a homophobic freak. The reason why the fines were so high wasn't because he just refused to serve the gay couple, but because he publicly doxxed them, resulting in death threats against their family.
It has nothing to do with hate; again, Christians don't hate. It's not part of their religion. What the baker did was refuse to be an instrumental part of their wedding. In fact the reason they targeted that guy is because they were customers of his, and knew he would object to making them a cake based on his religious beliefs. Nobody goes to prison for smoking pot for crying out loud.
Which case are we talking about? If we are talking about the Oregon Baker, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, the wife/owner knew the couple was gay and actually INVITED them to use her shop if they ever had a ceremony. Then the woman and her mother went in, and when her husband found out it was a gay wedding, started screaming bible verses at this poor lady and her mother.
Now, if you are talking about "Masterpiece Cakeshop", it was the Colorado Human Rights commission that brought the case, not the gay couple, who merely reported it.
People go to prison for selling pot, and a possession beef is enough to get you a criminal record.
Bullshit. You are saying the baker can't refuse to participate in a gay wedding, but a worker refusing to scan pork products or take a trailer load of alcohol is protected because of their religious beliefs. If their religious beliefs are protected, so should Christian beliefs.
YOu can get another teller or driver to deliver/scan those products. So the rights of the worker aren't being infringed.
Oh, most places, you refuse to serve gay customers, and you aren't the owner, you are going to be fired...
You have a right to not do things to violate your beliefs, but your business does not.
For instance, I really, really, really ******* hate Mormons. Can't ******* stand them. Basically, their continued existence is an insult to Darwin.
But funny thing, a Mormon gives me a call tomorrow and says, "I need a resume", I can't say to them, "**** you, I don't do Resumes for Mormons".
There is a separation from me and my business. I'm free to hate Mormons until the Planet Kolob goes dark. My business has to provide the same services to them as I do everyone else.
Public Accommedation laws not only protect gays and minorities, they also protect Jews, Mormons, Christians and Muslims.
On a more practical note, though. Their money is just as green as anyone else's.