Same Sex Marriage

Same Sex Marriage

BUS-201

Jiahong Li

According to CNN, The United States has become the 21st country to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. Same sex marriage now has the legal right and benefits as heterosexual couples. (CNN,2015) But after reading the given material, I found out that there are still many difficulties and ethical dilemmas for same sex marriage. Whether religion aspect or free speech aspect or others, they all challenge the right of same sex marriage couples. And here I will discuss what dilemmas I found from the material from Wall Street Journal.

According to the Wall Street Journal, there is a case gained attention in August, 2013. An Albuquerque photography business violated state antidiscrimination laws because its owner declined to take photos for a lesbian couple’s commitment ceremony. And then, the state Supreme Court rejected the claim by the owners of Albuquerque photography business. They argued that they shouldn’t be forced to tell like “a positive and approving” story about a ceremony they don't’ even like to serve. And their lawyer would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court for violating their freedom to do business. The couple was grateful that the New Mexico Supreme Court ensured their dignity and right for having their commitment ceremony. (Koppel, Jones, 2013) In this case, we can found out that the dilemmas will be discrimination law versus free-speech clause. Jonathan Lorence, their lawyer, and Elaine Huguenin, the owners of Albuquerque photography business, they believed that the laws and amendment protect them the right for refusing to serve anyone they don’t want to serve and against the court violated their freedom to do business. However, the couple claimed that the law also protected them from discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. The ethical dilemma happened here is because the same sex marriage couple felt getting hurt because they thought they have the right to having marriage because the same sex marriage has been legalized but they however refused by snapping the photos for their commitment ceremony.

Also, according to the given reading material, in Colorado, Jack Phillips, a baker and the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Denver. He refused to work on same sex weddings. He claimed that his Christian beliefs prevented him from baking wedding cakes for same sex ceremonies. David Mullins, a gay man whose was declined by Jack Phillips for business last year also filed a discrimination complaint against Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips would be facing state sanctions and he declined to be interviewed. But due to his email sent to friends also confirmed was authentic by his lawyer, he wrote that the reason that he refused to bake cakes for same sex weddings is not because he discriminates gays, it is because his religion. Also in Oregon, Aaron and Melissa Klein, also the bakery owners, was filed against them by refusing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Their lawyer claimed that Aaron and Mellissa have done business with gay people for years. They just don't want to be forced to participate in an event against their Christian beliefs. Same case happened in Washington, florist Barronelle Stutzman was sued by the state attorney after she refused to provide wedding floral arrangements for a gay couple. And the gay couple, Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed sued as well. Ms. Stutzman countersued Washington in August, claiming that the U.S. and state constitutions protect her from being forced to perform actions countrary to her religious beliefs and her conscience. She also thought forcing her to use her artistic skill to personally craft expressive floral arrangements for the same sex wedding, violated her speech rights. (Koppel, Jones, 2013)