Education, tolerance is the solution

Education, tolerance is the solution

In response to an article by Mr. Guagenti, a barber who states he provides haircuts to everyone. He has missed the point. A baker, florist and printer do likewise.

Gays and lesbians are served like anyone else. The issue is by baking a cake, making flower arrangements or printing invitations for a same-sex marriage, they feel they are contributing to a sinful act based on deep religious beliefs.

First, do religious beliefs have a place in the public arena protected by the First Amendment, or is the government the arbiter here to exclude these beliefs from that arena? Secondly, are citizens educated on why someone is homosexual?

English philosopher John Locke said you can have freedom of religion but you cannot transcend your religious beliefs into the public square. People in disagreement came to the New World to practice their religion free of government intervention. James Madison wrote the Constitution's first amendment on freedom of religion with the express intent that religious beliefs have a place in the public square based on tolerance.

Today we have instances where government and courts have become intolerant to premises laid out by our Founding Fathers. A baker in Oregon was fined $150,000 for not providing a cake. This mom and pop bakery had to close its doors. Two businesses in Colorado were ordered to provide services or face fines. This is totalitarianism. Going down this path cuts both ways. As a printer I would be forced to print posters, God hates Gays.

Would it not be better for the same sex couple to honor these religious beliefs and try to educate? Recent research studies have identified genetic epimarkers that cause homosexuality. People do not choose to be homosexual. Education and tolerance is the solution. Forcing one to abandon their beliefs is not.

William Johnson

Lombard