Being tolerant is not 'non-religious'

I question a recent letter writer's assumption that people who do not share her religious beliefs are "nonreligious people."

Many gay people are religious, and many Christian people like myself who support marriage equality are religious. So the letter writer, assuming that gay couples are choosing a lifestyle that is sinful, should go to a sinful florist or sinful nonreligious demonic baker? This is totally absurd and a model based on her beliefs being imposed on those who believe otherwise.

I am a Christian who believes in the love and tolerance of Jesus Christ. All are welcome to his table. I own a barber shop. According to the letter writer's views, since she wishes not to support marriage equality and I do, I should turn her or her family members away when they come to my shop for a haircut, because her view of "hate the sin love the sinner" collides with my belief that being gay is a natural way of being with no sinful element whatsoever.

I would never do that. I would serve her proudly and respect her beliefs, as they have absolutely nothing to do with me. To do otherwise is both un-Christian and un-American, and just plain mean spirited.

My customers are Christian, Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Polish, Hispanic, black, white, atheists, gay, straight, Indian, evangelical and transgender, and a whole lot else. I serve them all proudly.

Their hair all grows at the same rate and their money all spends the same way. We respect each other's views and sometimes even joke about it. Then we talk about the weather and the price of gas.

Love and respect thy neighbor and everything will be all right. That's all I have to say.

Louis S. Guagenti

Arlington Heights