NJ bridal store refuses to sell to a lesbian

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/bridal-store-refuses-to-sell-wedding-gown-to-lesbian.html

disgusting.

the store should be driven out of business

It's their right. It's also my right to NOT spend money there.

In many states however it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation as it should be, it is the same thing as denying blacks a seat at the lunch counter.

:wow:

If you own a business and you deny someone a service, I don't have an issue with that. It's your business, you as the owner make the rules. If I don't like your rules, I as a customer am free to spend my money elsewhere.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't believe any civil rights were violated in this case.

:eyes:

Thats what the J in JS stands for. Did your parents really name you Lefty, or are you just ashamed to use your name on a BB?

Don't be afraid, what's the worst that can happen?

U sad?

Based on their apparent intent to rein in what is considered "marriage" and place controls on those wishing to indulge in the institution. ;-)

Well they won't get my gown order!

Store dresses down bride for being a lesbian

A New Jersey bridal store is catching a lot of flack after it refused to sell a wedding dress to a lesbian.

Philadelphia Daily News writes how a young bride-to-be entered the store with six of her closest friend and family members. The group was abuzz with excitement and celebration. The mother had packed little gift bags of muffins and morning snacks and a bottle of champagne was in tow.

After selecting and trying on several dresses, the young woman found one that she wanted and placed and order for it, thrilled to have found her perfect dress. When she filled out the order form, she crossed out the word "groom" and replaced it with "partner," and wrote the name of her wife to be.

The woman was surprised later when the store owner called her up to inform her that the store wouldn't be working with her.

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/bridal-store-refuses-to-sell-wedding-gown-to-lesbian.html

Recommended.

When welcoming New York is right over the bridge? We are also the light at the end of the tunnel.

Not exactly in New York's backyard.

you cannot discriminate. That's what the sit ins during the 60's was about. All people are equal under the law no matter your race, creed, religion or culture.

and i wouldnt mind seeing the owner lose her life savings

This'll be fun.

And how, exactly, is the answer to your question going to provide you with "fun"? Seems pretty obvious and simple to me.

:shrug:

No Federal laws do that I am aware of.

From reading your post I thought you were speaking of Federal civil rights laws.

Federal civil rights legislation only protects people in certain protected classes from certain types of discrimination. If you're not in one of those protected groups, and if the discrimination isn't related to a protected activity, the old "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" still applies.

Sexual orientation is NOT on the list of protected classes.

Here in California, we have the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination against anyone, for anything. From gays, to asians, to blondes, my business has to be welcoming to everyone.

While some other states have similar legislation, most don't. It's perfectly legal to discriminate and refuse service to gays in those states.

Why do you think the GLBT community fights so hard for equality? It's not just marriage...the basic ability to shop in your corner grocery store, an ability that most American's don't even think about, can be denied to a person merely based on their sexuality. Walk into your corner store holding your partners hand, and in most of America you can be thrown out if the owner sees it and decides that he "doesn't like your kind".

New Jersey Civil Rights Statute as of 1991:
It is unlawful for a person to refuse to buy from, sell to, contract or otherwise do business with an individual because of the individual'srace, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability or because of race, creed, national origin or other protected characteristics of the person's spouse, partners, employees, business associates, suppliers or customers.

Quoted on Daily Kos. And while you're there, don't miss the audio recording of the voice mail that the shop owner left:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/18/1008228/-NJ-Bridal-Shop-Turns-Away-Lesbian-Bride

The problem with the federal legislation, and that New Jersey statute, is that they only offer protection to the prescribed "classes". The California statute simply says that everyone is equal, and while it does provide examples of the kinds of people it wants to protect, those are simply examples.

The Unruh Civil Rights Act:

"All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever"

The important part, from a legal standpoint and within our courts, are these words: "All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal...entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever"

If you throw a mean looking biker out of your bar because you "don't like his kind", he can sue your ass off for discriminating against him. As a business owner, you either have to show a historical reason for doing so (that biker has caused problems before), or a business reason for doing so (the biker was scaring away your customers and causing actual harm to your business).

It does occasionally have its downsides (California bars can't have Ladies Nights anymore, because a court ruled that they amounted to discrimination against men), but it's 99% WIN for California equality.

Economy SAVED!!!

Some people in the comments caught on to this . .. why is the place even asking her the question of who she's marrying? Why is it any of their business and why does this matter? I found it strange and wonder if that's normal for wedding dress purchases.

Lesbians don't just know other lesbians. They have straight relatives and friends. Bad mouth this store to everyone you know. That is the way to really get back at them.

why turn away the chance to sell 2 dresses:)

All the little fundie brides in the New York-New Jersey-eastern Pennsylvania area are going to go to this bridal store because of what this woman did. Which is totally screwed up, but what can you do?

Have you ever heard of the "Shepherd's Guide"? It is a printed-and-online directory of businesses owned by on-your-sleeve Christians because a large number of hardcore Christians refuse to trade with anyone who doesn't hold religious views similar to their own. You watch: people are going to go to this bridal store not because it has a wide selection of beautiful dresses in stock and available on special order (which it almost certainly does), or because it has good prices and excellent service (also almost certainly true) but because it turned away a lesbian's business.

I predict that the fundies are going to be less powerful here.

And the people who were discriminated against are looking into filing civil charges. They have audio recordings of the shop owner saying that the bride was "describing an illegal activity, and we don't support any illegal activities. Thank you and goodbye."

Which is kind of funny because what the shop owner did is definitely illegal in New Jersey.

RIGHT to do a certain thing, does not mean that thing is the RIGHT thing to do. Perfect example.

of the fundies and tea baggers.

they spend lots of $$$ too