Does a restaurant that offers wedding catering have the right to refuse service to same-sex couples?
JJ’s ToGo in Centralia, Washington seems to think so, and recently canceled their previously agreed upon catering contract with a couple after learning they were same-sex.
The owners said they did not come by the decision lightly, but ultimately decided to follow their Christian faith and deny the couple service over their sexuality, but the couple says that their faith is simply a cover for bigotry.
Now, the restaurant is facing massive backlash from consumers, and may soon be facing legal action from the Washington state government.
The Right to Refuse Service?
The outrage began after Ali Duncan, the mother of one of the brides-to-be, posted on social media about how her daughter and future daughter-in-law were denied service at JJ’s.
“This afternoon my daughter Ryah Calkins and her fiancé Lillian Glover entered a restaurant in Centralia, Washington known as JJ’s TO GO,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “It was an exciting event for them as they were meeting with the owner to pay with cash, in full, for the catering of their wedding in January. As they were approached by the owner, she looked at them both and upon noticing they were both female, she proceeded to tell them she was refusing service for the catering services they had previously agreed upon….because Lili and Ryah are same sex partners. Other than the fact that this was completely hurtful and shocking to the girls, it is also ILLEGAL IN WASHINGTON STATE.”
Bad Reviews Roll In
Following the post, backlash against the restaurant spread like wildfire, and the restaurant received scores of negative reviews on their Facebook page and on review websites like Yelp.
“Their cakes are full of hate. The vibes are bad,” wrote one reviewer. “And the service comes with a side helping of Bible thumping bigotry.”
“If you enjoy mediocre at best food served by a business that outrightly refuses service to people because of their sexual orientation, this is the place for you,” wrote another. “Discrimination and hate. Hard pass and shame on this business, I'm ashamed to have them in my community.”
The Restaurant’s Response
As the restaurant was inundated with bad press and negative comments and reviews, the owners issued a statement admitting that their faith guided them to deny service to the couple due to their sexuality - but they said it was out of love.
“It is extremely important to us that you both know we love you,” the restaurant owners wrote to the couple on Facebook. But “every decision that is made is based on our faith in Jesus Christ.”
“No amount of money could make us bend our beliefs,” they said.
Is This Legal?
Bakers, florists, invitation designers… Just about every type of wedding vendor you can imagine has turned away same-sex couples in the last decade, citing a Christian belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman (though one wedding venue cited Christian belief when they denied service to a mixed race couple).
And though some of these cases have made their way to the Supreme Court - and the same-sex denying businesses have even won - the rulings have always been narrow enough to not set any sort of legal precedent.
So will the restaurant end up in legal trouble?
The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and does not allow an exemption for religious beliefs. And Washington has some of the strongest protections for the LGBTQ+ community, and Washington’s state government is one of the most aggressive in legally pursuing discrimination cases.
The whole situation brings up an interesting question. When it comes to legally protecting the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination, and the rights of Christian business owners to express their faith, where, exactly, is the line?
Considering that the restaurant’s allegedly already been reported to the state Attorney General, we may soon find out.
46 comments
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Christianity really is a hate group.
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James Riggle-Johnson
I’m not surprised. The Supreme Court made it legal to refuse service based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. I guess they think it’s okay to agree to do the wedding for the customer and wait for them to come and pay and say, “Oh wait… didn’t I tell you I won’t do business with your kind?”
This company will lose business because of the bad press they’re going to get and then they will scream religious persecution. It’s okay for them to push people away but they don’t deserve it. Once you are allowed to discriminate against one group of people, you open the door to other groups being discriminated against.
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Eugene T Rice
There was a time in this country when a huge number of businesses refused to serve black people. Then LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today the bigots target gay people and, knowing that religion occupies a special place in America, use it to justify their vile discrimination. Saying "Jesus made me do it" seems both cowardly and almost sacrilegious. I am not the sharpest knife in the draw but even I remember "Judge not least ye be judged".
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Daniel Gray
Sigh, whine and complain all you want, but the SCOTUS already said this can be done and its legal. If you have a problem with the SCOTUS then make a trip to DC and complain to them. lets see how far that gets you
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Nicholas J Page
It's the 21st century we should love everyone I'm heterosexual but I support same sex marriage this isn't the dark ages when gays had to keep quiet and in the closet.So I hope the ladies take legal action and win .Let this be a lesson to all you gay haters because that's what you are.We have 2 gay ladies as neighbours and we all get on well together.
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Colleen McAllister
Jesus told us to obey the secular laws. The caterer needs to be up front about who they serve. Discriminatory? Yes. But if the law says they cannot discriminate then legally they need to serve that couple.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
If that photo is of the actual business owner, I wonder if her thoughts would be different if she were old enough to remember when so many businesses posted white only on their doors?
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Lynn Schumacher Hamer
I was thinking the same thing. But I went to their website. They are both white females. So there is no lesson there. Sadness
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William E Muldrew
I believe everyone and business should have the right to run their business based on their beliefs. If you can't stand behind your beliefs then you really don't believe in what you say. I judge not any man or woman, for I not be judge my them but buy God. To force people to follow laws that are against their beliefs is being a governmental personal involvement in people faith which is against all that is right in the world. I pray that people investigate the service of a business before putting them self and the business in a compromising position.
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Rev james
I completely agree with you
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Reverend Paula Copp
Soooo… if I decide that I want to run a business which catered only to women because of misandry, can I refuse service to any/every man, even if that man wanted to buy something? Is that not considered gender discrimination? BTW, I am not a misandrist.
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Alexander Arends
I don't see the caterers having to do anything in the wedding ceremony that would interfere with their religeous beliefs. They are not asked to perform any ritual. They may not agree with same sex marriage, but they serve other people who have opposite beliefs. The caterers should have honored the the contract they agreed to.
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Mark Gilgen
I wont condemn people for following their beliefs. It is their busyness so they can run it as they see fit. One question would be WHY do you want to try to force them to accept you and have it there? Is it JUST to FORCE your belief on them? In that case who is right, What would Jesus say and do?
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James Riggle-Johnson
Mark, I get it… why not just go somewhere else? The problem is that the couple had a contract with the business and then the business canceled it when they went to pay. Now, they have no choice but to find another catering company. I doubt they will use this company in the future, but they need to be called out for their bigotry.
You read in the article about the other wedding venue who said they wouldn’t serve a mixed-race couple because of their religious beliefs. When you let someone deny service to one group of people, they add other groups to their DO NOT SERVE lists.
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Mark Hannon
Might as well get used to it now. I expect this to be the way of life in many places.
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Rev. BH
Here we go again. Another business that turns away income. Smart, huh?
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Daniel Gray
their business, so what business is it of yours?
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Rev. BH
Dan, another keen and insightful comment. Thanks!
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Daniel Gray
And I guess you seem to ignore the Same Sex teachers that were fired when they violated the contract they signed at a religious school, or the people who were slapped down by the SCOTUS in the Cake Making decision or the flower arrangement decision or the one in Miching where the city tried to ban a farmer when he refused to allow his property to be used for a SSW and the city lost close to 2 million dollars when they were ordered by the courts to reverse their decision.
Seems the Court do not agree with your snarky remark and clearly have said all over this country that what the store owner is doing is perfectly legal.
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Rev. BH
I'm sure the Supreme Court is totally unaware of my "snarky" remark and therefore couldn't agree or disagree with me. I doubt if they read these blogs. And my original comment with which you're so upset, is about businesses losing money to make a point. I didn't suggest they should be forced to do anything. Please read what I wrote, not what you imagine.
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Daniel Gray
Maybe but it just goes to show how wrong you are in this case.
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Lynn Schumacher Hamer
Christians continuously teach and indoctrinate their children that God and Jesus loves everyone and hate has no place. Then those children become adults and find that in their Churches reality, God is actually hateful and vindictive. You know, like humans. I cannot continue to believe in a god that is hateful, unmerciful, vindictive and shallow. I refuse. I want to believe in the description of a decent, loving God that you sell to your children in Sunday School.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
Do not blame God for what men and women do. He does loves all His children the same. All organized religions are manmade. Any one that supports or promotes hate or judgement is not of or from God. The followers do what they choose to do and later try to justify but in God's name when God has nothing to do with it.
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Richard David Atwood
if it is your place of business, then it is your call who you sell to, and for what reason. If the owner doesn't want to sell you what they have for sale, then go someplace that will sell it to you. This crap of going to the police or gov because someone doesn't want to do business with you is BS. It's not the duty of the police or the gov to tell you who you can or can't do business with. You have the right to refuse business with anyone you want. Go into almost any store and read the signs. "We have the right to refuse to serve anyone". "No shirt no shoes, no service. Grow up. Quit being a crybaby Karen and go someplace else. NO ONE has the right to tell you what you can or can't do in your own home or business, simple fact.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
So you are ok with discrimination against BIPOC People. And how about women who wear pants? Men with long braids? A man wearing a pink shirt? A person with profound disabilities?
The entire idea of “deeply held religious beliefs” is nothing more than being a toddler who thrashes on the floor when they don’t get their own way.
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Daniel Gray
and is perfectly legal according to the SCOTUS
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James Riggle-Johnson
So much there to unpack. Yes, when you go into some businesses, they have a sign saying, “We have the right to refuse service to anyone” but what happens when they only refuse black people? Are they just crybaby Karens, or do you only hold this view for certain types of people?
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Lynn Schumacher Hamer
I really believe you are wrong when it comes to businesses. Even what you do in your own home has exceptions to this clause. Are you saying that abuse of children should be nobody's business if it's done in the privacy of your own home? Pedophiles everywhere would love that. Abusive men and women would love it as well. We wouldn't have to worry about most children because they'd be dead. Isn't there a consequence to your business if you choose hate and discrimination as your business plan? You end up losing more money than you would have saved. It could mean your success or failure. Abuse in any form should be pushed into the light of the public. And any ministry that preaches hate is not ok, it is a slippery slope for most of the congregation that chooses the pastors ideals over better humans. Make no mistake. God never preaches hatred of any kind, that's what humans choose to do. I understand there is a sect of Christianity out there for whatever you personally believe in. Wish to abuse your wife and children? There's a sect of Christianity for that. Want to treat your wife like a slave or a thing? There's a sect for that. Want to be a pedophile? There are quite a few sects for that. Dirty little secrets in so many sects of Christianity, Muslim or Judaism. Pick your kindness, choose your morality. Choose the kind of person you want to be in life. I personally choose to our hatred, abuse, ignorance. I choose to be a better human than some pastor is telling me to be.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
Have you learned nothing from history? Remember the days when "whites only" signs were everywhere? That did not change until good people stood up against it.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Setting aside the fact that they are a same-sex couple, why would anyone go where they are not wanted?
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Reverend Paula Copp
I have no clue as to why anyone would want to go where they’re not wanted, but a lot of people do…
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Theresa C. Marquess
There are times when I think it is about the challenge. I subscribe to live and let live. When I was associated with a business our doors were open to all. It's not good business to do otherwise.
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Lynn Schumacher Hamer
They wouldn't choose to go where they are not wanted. But when you allow businesses to refuse service out of hatred, then eventually they have no place else to go and are in serious danger of abuse. That is so wrong on so many levels.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
Who cares that they are a same sex couple. Worry more for those misguided enough to judge the couple and ask yourself why would you have business to people like that?
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Robert James Ruhnke
It’s a public business which serves the public good. Maybe if they don’t want to serve ALL of the public, then don’t open a business. If they had a private Christian club, that’s another story. Bigotry is more of a sin than being gay ever will.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Comment removed by user.
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Jon E Dare
This is abhorrent behavior. Weddings weren’t even actually in the Bible. You laid down with someone and you were married. Incest was also rampant back then. I despise “religious” people who pick and choose which scriptures apply to them.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Why are so many christians following the Old Testament? That’s for the Jewish culture… why aren’t christians listening to the words of their savior?
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Lori-Ann Neeb
As all organized religion is manmade it can always go either way depending on whether or not the follower has also found their spiritual heart and listens to it. Some just read the man made words and never question the dogma found there. They have been raised and trained to believe they are not allowed. I always believe in reading or studying anything with an open and inquisitive mind.
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Dane
Justifying actions like this by saying you're following your faith is the reason many people these days have taken to saying, "There is no hate like Christian love."
Matthew 12:31 tells us that all sins will be forgiven if you but believe. In other words, even if you consider homosexuality to be a sin, God himself would still be willing to give this couple a pass.
Claiming to follow God's word, when it's clear that you haven't even read it, is incredibly arrogant.
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Mark Gilgen
The bible also says to repent your sins, not glorify them.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
The bible is one of many “religious” texts. It sounds like you think the one YOU read/believe is the “one and only.” Quite prideful and arrogant of you.
You are one of the many reasons so many are fleeing the so-called “religions.” Pity…
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Robert James Ruhnke
The Bible has also been a mass produced political tool. It’s original meaning was man shall not lie with child. It was an anti pedo clause, not anti gay. The Catholic Church edited it for political reasons, not spiritual.
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Daniel Gray
its legal according to the SCOTUS, sorry about your luck.
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Lori-Ann Neeb
I agree but would tweak the wording a bit. Whether or not a person believes something is sin or not is on them and no one else. God loves everyone the same and He could not care less what lifestyle the couple are. He wouldn't have to give them "a pass" since they do nothing wrong as a couple to begin with. Some judgmental people should worry more about their own spiritual states than what other people do or do not do.
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If they dont want to serve you, go to someplace else. And I'm gay.
Unfortunately Jeffrey, I know that town and do not live to far away from it.
There really isn't anywhere else to go without traveling miles and the people in that town are pretty much all the same. It's a small town mentality that swears they take care of their own. They omit to also state that there is a clause in there that says only those that agree with them. I'm from a small Midwest town. I know the dirty skeletons in those closets.