Business Law Ethics Paper– Gay Marriage
The first dilemma noted is ‘Should states allow Gay Marriage?’ While I do not know the date of
this article, per CNN.com the Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 2015 that states cannot ban same sex
marriage. As a result, dilemma number one solved, anyone can be married regardless of sex and
regardless of public or personal opinion. The courts have ruled in favor, whether public opinion agrees or
not. The cons%tu%on now grants them the right according to an article from NPR on June 26, 2015.
Next, there is the issue of discrimina%on against those who are entering in a same sex marriage
by vendors that would normally assist in a typical wedding day. Florists, bakeries and photographers
refused to o6er or rather get paid for their services because they didn’t agree with same sex marriage. In
my opinion this can be compared to refusing to serve blacks in a restaurant in the 60’s as also stated in
the article this is going to cause ‘a ba7le of civil rights’. While, we are en%tled to our own opinions and
beliefs why would a business want to refuse a customer just because they didn’t agree with them? Do
they refuse to do weddings where the bride is pregnant or if the man is far too old to be marrying the
young lady? Does the business have a sign posted “no shoes, no shirt, no homosexuals, no service?” I did
a search online and actually found an article similar to my sign (I was only trying to be sarcas%c.)
legalzoom.com states that a business owner cannot have a sign that states ’We reserve the right to
refuse service to anyone’. However, they can have signs that are explicit ‘NO Shirt NO Shoes NO Service’
as long as it applies to ALL. You cannot discriminate against a par%cular group. If you let white people in
without shoes on, but not the black family then you are being discrimatory. The article also men%ons the
baker refusing to make the cake for the gay marriage and was held liable for discrimination, but
referenced another case where a baker refused to put an an%-gay Bible verse on the cake and the court
