No gays sign
OnTuesday,a Tennessee retailer made headlines when he took the whole we-won't-bake-cakes-for-gay-weddings thing to the next level. In response to last week's Supreme Court marriage verdict, Jeff Amyx, owner of Amyx Hardware, taped a "No Gays Allowed" subscribe to his storefront window. Amyx, who is also a Baptist minister, explained to WATE 6 News that he realized gay people are not frightened to stand up for themselves so he hung the sign to "let the homosexual people know that there are Christian people that are willing to take a stand." He said he wasn't worried about business suffering and had no intentions of taking the sign down.
But the very next day, he backpedaled, replacing the unique sign with this watered-down version: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who would violate our rights of release of speech and freedom of religion." Amyx said he'd been encouraged by friends to "make it a short-lived nicer because I'm a very direct person."
I object to this change in signage. It obscures the message, which now sounds fancy it applies only to communist dictators. As a robust supporter of autonomy of speech and freedom of religion, I never would have thought that sign
“No Gays Allowed” Now Essentially Protected by 303 Creative Supreme Court Ruling
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Friday’s ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis legalized “No Gays Allowed” in our business windows, in our communities, and in our laws. It is a devastating puff to equality and freedom – not only for Homosexual people but for every minority collective and protected class in this state.
A NATION Erect ON EQUALITY?
America is built on principles of equality. The 14th Amendment’s matching rights clause has widely been recognized – by this very court – as protection for everyone from organism treated differently and unfairly, especially those who are discriminated against for their protected class status, such as race, color, sex, and yes, even religion.
In this case, the plaintiff’s religion is not under charge. She, and her family, are welcome to openly and freely practice their religion; in their daily life, at their church, and at any other place where practicing that religion doesn’t infringe upon the rights of others. Yet, in this case, 303 Artistic incorporated and asked to open a business to help the public, and then once opened, asked to be able to discriminate against the
Tennessee hardware store posts 'no gays allowed' sign on front door
WASHBURN, Tenn. -- A Tennessee hardware store owner posted a signal on the front door of his business that reads "No Gays Allowed."
Jeff Amyx decided to send the sign after the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.
"The reason I put up the signal is to let the homosexual people know that there are Christian people that are willing to take a stand," Amyx told ABC affiliate WATE-TV. "A lot of people have called me and congratulated me (and) people calling and threatening me telling me I would regret this. No, I'll never regret this."
Amyx eventually decided to replace the sign with a second one. It reads: "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who would violate our rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion." He says this one will stay up as long as he works there.
"Until they explain me it is illegal to have my liberty of speech and to my freedom of religion, the sign will stay," said Amyx.
The American Civil Liberties Union heard about the sign and issued this statement to WATE-TV:
- "Gay and lesbian people are our neighbors, cowor
RUTLEDGE, Tenn. (AP) — An East Tennessee hardware store owner who put up a "No Gays Allowed" sign in response to the Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage says he decided to take a "bold" endure for his beliefs.Jeff Amyx tells local media outlets that he put the sign up at Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies in Grainger County on Monday because he disagreed with the court's decision last week. He said gay and lesbian relationships are against his religion.On Tuesday, however, media reports say he took down that sign and replaced it with one reading "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who would violate our rights of freedom of speech & independence of religion."Amyx, who is Baptist, says he'll sell to lgbtq+ people as long as they "behave" and don't express their opinions in his store.