I understand your perspective in your May 8 column [“Fighting hate with hate is NOT the answer”]. The Sweet Cakes by Melissa owners intentionally broke the law and discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. It was their decision to do so and they stand by their decision. They didn’t say, “Whoops. Didn’t know that was against the law. Our bad.”
You mention that there are two sides to every story — that suggests that the lesbian couple who had been patrons of the cake shop were in the wrong to ask their local baker to make their cake, as they had done for other occasions. But the law is clear. The bakers did discriminate based on sexual orientation—a violation under Oregon statute. Would we say it’s “two sides to every story” if the bakers wouldn’t make a cake for African-American people?
There are consequences to homophobia. We do need to send a message that bigotry is not a practice endorsed in Oregon commerce. How else would you sanction a business for an egregious and intentional violation of the law?
Homophobia needs to remain separate from business practice if business owners intend to set up shop in Oregon. Sweet Cakes by Melissa chose to act on theirs and being outed about their homophobic beliefs and prejudice was what cost them their business. (You should also see this, if you haven’t:http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-20698-the_cake_wars.html)
Lastly, I agree with you, there is no excuse to belittle someone because they have a different belief system or lifestyle. People who are gay, lesbian, bi, or queer don’t have a lifestyle, they just have a different sexual orientation and in Oregon that is a protected class.
Best,
CM Hall
Project Coordinator, Western Region Interpreter Education Center
Adjunct Faculty, ASL/English Interpreting Program
