As noted in SemDem's top-rated diary, the jackasses are now trying to turn everything upside down by trying to claim that it's "discriminatory" for a bakery NOT to put an anti-gay message on a cake if that's what the customer asks for.
As insane as this is, it's similar to other nutbag "defenses" which I've seen in FB/Twitter threads. Here's another one:
"Would a gay caterer be required to provide services for a Westboro Baptist Church event?"
(etc, etc)
Just so this is all straight (no pun intended), could any lawyers amongst us answer that question definitively, along with the following (which relate to my own business here in Michigan):
--A Republican candidate contacts me wanting a campaign website. Can I refuse?
--How about Right to Life of Michigan, the NRA or some other right-wing outfit?
--How about Michael Cannon/Jonathan Adler (the guys behind the King v. Burwell Obamacare Supreme Court Case)?
--In any/all of the above cases, what if they didn't want me to actually develop the website but wanted me to provide them with site hosting services? (that's the closest equivalent I can think of to "selling them a cake but they have to write the hate message on it themselves")
I'm fairly certain that I have a perfect right to refuse any/all of the above since the reason I'd be doing so is not because of the customer's race, religion, sexuality, etc...but can someone actually lay it out for me more clearly than that?
I mean, if the sum total of your "religion" involves being a total douchebag in and of itself (Westboro Church), then could denying them service because they're "total douchebags" be considered religious discrimination?
Update: Another example: Some guy I went to high school with whose guts I always hated...maybe he used to beat me up, make fun of me, whatever. Am I obliged to develop a website for him?
For that matter, what if I'm simply booked for the next few months? What if I just don't happen to feel like taking on a project of the size/scope that the customer is looking for (that is, I'm capable of handling it but just don't feel like it at the moment)?
Update x2: Coffeetalk has given the most comprehensive actual legal response so far; thanks!
The biggest issue he/she brought up is whether my business is a place of "public accommodation" or not. I'm a home-based business and a sole proprietor, FWIW, so it sounds like I'd be in the clear regardless of anything else.